Sneak preview of the redesigned website

Next Tuesday when we debut the new catalog to the public, we’ll also roll out a redesigned website, which you can have a sneak preview of now. It’s not 100% complete (it will be tweaked between now & Tuesday) but you can still get a good feel for the new site. Along with the new look of the site, one of the new features to mention is that the site is optimized for mobile devices. This means that the site can detect whether a visitor is using a computer, tablet or phone and automatically adjust the site’s display to the best size for that device’s screen. (FYI, we had over half a million visits to the website last year from mobile devices.)

Phone and tablet users can add a shortcut to our site to their device’s homescreen so for all practical purposes, our site will function like the other apps already on their device WITHOUT the hassle it takes to search for, install, configure, and regularly update an app.

On the Research (nee Databases) page, users will be able to choose whether to display all of the databases Alphabetically, by Category (subject heading), or by Audience (age group).

Displaying databases alphabetically is pretty straightforward. Each database has a series of hyperlinked tags to help those searching our website. For example, if a student searches our site for 'Oklahoma,' then all of the databases tagged with ‘Oklahoma’ (like the two shown below) and those in the Oklahoma Category will appear in the search results. Additionally, if the student is on the Research page and clicks the ‘Oklahoma’ tag, they will see a list of all Databases with this tag.

Not only are there some new subject headings for the databases (see below), but there are also some new database names as we have combined, split or renamed a number of databases:

• Benezit Dictionary of Artists & Grove Art Online are now Oxford Art Online
• Literature Resource Center, LitFinder & Gale Artemis are now Gale Artemis
• Testaments to the Holocaust & Testaments to the Holocaust. Documents and Rare Printed Materials from the Weiner Library, London are now Testaments to the Holocaust
• ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Chicago Defender (1910-1975), ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Jewish Advocate (1905-1990), ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Jewish Exponent (1887-1990),ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Los Angeles Times (1881-1987), ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times (1851-2007), and ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Washington Post (1877-1995) are now Historical Newspapers
• Grolier Online is now America the Beautiful, Lands and People, and The New Book of Popular Science
• Ulrich’s Periodicals Directory is now Ulrichsweb
• Statistical Abstract of the United States Online Edition is now Statistical Insight

And don’t worry: the new database names created from those that were combined or renamed do list the previous individual databases in their description so users looking for the old database names will be able to find them.             

Many databases appear in more than subject heading according to its contents. For example, Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia is in the General Research category and the Homework Help category because it has content that applies in both areas.

Displaying the database by audience will show you the databases that are geared towards that age group:

When you have a chance, take some time to familiarize yourself with the new site. Poke around, see what you think, and think about the kinds of questions customers will ask you about the new site. And if you have any questions or comments, we'd like to hear them!