DCS 2.0 FAQs

System Downtime & Migration

Will there be downtime for librarians and teaching staff when setting up new users and making requests?

We anticipate a downtime of up to one week, with exact timing to be confirmed closer to launch. 

Will students experience downtime?

We will ensure existing student links are accessible from the new platform.  Any downtime during migration will be brief, ensuring minimal disruption to student access. 

Can HEIs process requests on the current DCS before the new version launches?

Yes, institutions can continue using the current platform until migration is complete.  Requests made before the transition will be carried over to the new system.

URLs & System Access

Will request and admin URLs remain the same?

We aim to keep URLs unchanged to prevent disruptions.  If changes occur, we will automatically redirect to new ones. 

Release Schedule & Preparation

Is there scope for an earlier release of DCS 2.0?

No, an early launch is not possible as core functionality will still be undergoing development and testing. Training and guidelines will be provided in advance to support all HEIs and teams ahead of rollout. 

Content Availability

Can users check repository content without submitting a request (speculative search of ISBNs and ISSNs)? 

Born-Digital materials will continue to be flagged by an icon at the earliest possible stage, and you will continue to have the option to search for only titles with Born Digital content. 

We will add a similar feature for crowdsourced content. This will be at an ISBN level for books so would show that there was some content for the title, but the system won't know yet exactly what extract you are looking for.  Full details will be available in the Source Content section of the request page, as it is now. 

Library Management Systems & Reading List Management Systems

What will happen with LMSs? 

The DCS uses third party APIs.  We are in the process of rebuilding the integrations.  They will work in the same way as they do just now.  We are in discussions with all suppliers to ensure smooth transition. 

What will happen with RLMSs?

For the first release, we are rebuilding the API with the same end points.  DCS 2.0 will be backwards-compatible and will work in the same way as DCS v.1. We are in discussions with all suppliers to ensure a smooth transition. Most future enhancements will be through additional endpoints (e.g. RLMS ID) added later. 

What does this mean for students?

Student links and Request IDs will remain the same, (if new URLs are needed, we will implement re-directs). There is no need for HEIs to update anywhere. 

For any other questions you might have about DCS 2.0 in the mean time, please contact: [e-mail]