Library Blog

Updated Library Website Ready for Testing

In line with the library's policy to provide iterative and incremental updates to the library website, a fresh new look is coming site for the Fall 2020 semester. In fact, many of the pages are already sporting the new design. If you're excited to test out the new homepage and library search interface, the beta version of the page is available now! 

The new design can be considered mostly a cosmetic update, with site organization and navigation remaining relatively unchanged. The homepage is still divided into four main sections: a search interface; quick-links to library tools and services; library news; and links to explore selected library collections. The new user interface makes better use of white space, heading levels, and font sizes. This makes the site easier to browse and read while also improving usability for individuals using screen readers.

One of the more noteworthy changes to the homepage is with the library search interface. Previously, available search tabs included: Everything, Books & Media, Journal Titles, Databases, and Course Reserves. The new interface aims to streamline library catalog searching by combining the 'Everything' and 'Books & Media' tabs into a single 'Search' tab. Users can then use the limiter/refinement options on the search results page to limit results by format type (e.g. articles, books, eBooks, etc.)

As you begin using the new search interface, you will notice that when you start typing within the 'Search' searchbox, the box expands to suggest performing the search in a few of our most popular article databases, rather than in the library catalog. This allows you quickly perform a search in Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, PubMed, or ERIC right from the library homepage. It is the hope of library staff that this will not only be convenient to users who use these databases often, but also serve as a reminder to students that subject-specific databases are available and are often a better place to start when searching for scholarly, peer-reviewed articles, rather than simply searching the all encompassing library catalog search.

The library website has undergone extensive changes within the past few years and we understand that too many changes too quickly can result in frustration. With the current facelift to the previous design, library staff feels confident that the new design will have a long shelf life and provide an improved user experience for all. So take some time, navigate around the site, test out the new search interface, and let us know what you think!