LTS Newsletter: April 2026
Welcome to Library Technology Service’s occasional newsletter for anyone interested in Harvard Library IT.
Digital Repository Service (DRS) Transition Timeline
In addition to the timeline below, please refer to the Project Plan and Timeline wiki page for an overview of key dates and major milestones as we transition from DRS2 to DRS3.
DRS3 Training Update
General Overview trainings for DRS3 were held to help orient users, introduce the DRS3 platform at a high level, and build foundational awareness of its key features and enhancements. These sessions began on March 31 and were followed by Deposit Fundamentals trainings, which provided a step-by-step walk-through of the DRS3 environment and demonstrated how to complete standard deposit activities, including uploading files and folders through both the web interface and Cyberduck.
If you were unable to attend the General Overview or Deposit Fundamentals trainings, please feel free to contact Khamiya Oyelaja to schedule a 1:1 session.
We also encourage you to visit the DRS Futures Training Schedule wiki page to view the most recent advanced training videos and to see the list of drop-in hours when members of the project team will be available to answer questions.
Supporting the DRS3 Cutover
In the sprints leading up to the DRS3 cutover, the Discovery team consciously uncoupled the Viewer and the Media Presentation Service (MPS) from the legacy DRS2 infrastructure before it was retired. This work ensures images and files will continue to deliver as expected, the Viewer's citable URNs will remain available, and anyone following an old link will be redirected to the right place (with a helpful message) rather than a dead end. In addition, we improved system logging so that if new issues arise after cutover that affect delivery, we’re better prepared to diagnose them more efficiently. When this kind of work goes well, no one notices, which we hope is your experience.
MPS Viewer: New Real-Time PDF Download
The recently launched MPS Viewer includes an improved PDF download feature that allows users to download documents in real time — no more waiting for an email. Previously, downloading more than 10 pages required submitting your email address and waiting several minutes for a download link to arrive.
With the new feature, users can access the download option through "Window Options" on the right side of the MPS Viewer. From there, clicking "Download PDF" opens a dialog that displays the document's page count and estimated file size. Users can download a single page, a specific page range, or the entire document.
The feature is fast and efficient — Senior Software Engineer Phil Plencner recently recorded a video demo showcasing both a 50-page excerpt and a full 132-page document downloading in just seconds, with high-quality results.
Security Updates
Like the security updates on your phone or computer, keeping Library systems safe requires ongoing, behind-the-scenes work. Each month, LTS teams identify and resolve security vulnerabilities that, if left unaddressed, could expose systems to risks such as service disruption or unauthorized account access. Fixing these issues as they arise, often called “patching,” is a regular and necessary part of maintaining the Library’s systems and services.
“Library Technology Services Newsletter: April Edition,” Harvard Library, © 2026 by Presidents and Fellows of Harvard College is licensed under CC BY 4.0