Dartmouth Libraries Search Upgrade and Homepage Refresh

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image of Baker Library tower through flowers credit Sophie Scull '25

Designing a Cohesive User Experience

For seven years, your Libraries Search experience has been powered by the latest in discovery and search technologies. The underlying platform updates every month, and dedicated library experts work regularly to make good on our commitment to maintain a welcoming and accessible website with powerful research tool integrations. With a major upgrade on the horizon, we took the opportunity to holistically evaluate our search system.

Over six months, we reviewed website usage data, collected user feedback, explored peer benchmarks, and reviewed research on library discovery. We created bespoke design elements, conducted user testing, and iterated throughout the process. The result is a customized Libraries Search that provides the trusted search experience you expect with a whole new look and accessibility improvements. 

On June 16, we’ll make the switch!

view of upgraded NDE

 

 

This new-look, customized Libraries Search demonstrates our commitment to universal design principles. It delivers a simplified layout, integrates much-needed technical enhancements, including improved support for screen readers and other assistive technologies, and has a Libraries Search landing page focused on powering your research. 

We’re excited for the new possibilities this refresh offers. With this update, we're able to provide a more accessible search environment and will soon be able to expand your search capabilities with new tools.

Paul Butler, Discovery Systems Librarian

Along with the Libraries Search launch, we’re introducing a refreshed Libraries website homepage

We’re synchronizing the timing of these changes with the Libraries Search upgrade to provide a cohesive user experience. The redesigned Libraries website homepage will include:

  • a simplified search box to align with the improved Libraries Search experience,
  • three “buttons” that link to the most used resources based on data analytics and user testing,
  • a layout redesign for the Libraries’ stories, giving you a snapshot of what’s happening,
  • and a new section emphasizing how library expertise supports you, linking directly to relevant information.
     
developer's view of the redesigned libraries website homepage

 

We’re delighted to reach two more major milestones in our ongoing commitment to regularly review, revise, and refresh the Dartmouth Libraries web pages and its integrated research tools. 

 

 

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