From funeral to christening: OPAC rites of passage

This article depicts how the Baylor libraries staged two cost‐effective celebrations to address challenges of migrating to a new online catalog. A New Orleans‐style funeral provided a humorous backdrop for library staff to relive the tragedies and successes of the old system as it was laid to rest. Several months later, a christening brought together a significant segment of the campus community to launch the new OPAC. By these rites of passage, library employees entertained and educated campus administrators, faculty, students, and community patrons. Through teamwork, a little humor, and sound fiscal management, the libraries turned an online system migration into a public relations triumph.