After undergoing considerable user testing, the newly remodeled UW-Madison Library website made its appearance this summer in anticipation of the upcoming academic year.
Previously, the library website, including the catalog,was built on in-house system. In order to streamline back-end and front-end usability, the entire catalog, related services, and resources are in the process of moving to a WordPress content management system. In addition, there will be a new infrastructure for circulation, cataloging and other library functions.
One of the more notable changes is the “Site search” feature, which uses a customized Google Search to comb multiple library domains. The Schwerdtfeger Library website domain (library.ssec.wisc.edu) is now included in this search. For example, if you search for “Suomi,” the most relevant results from the Schwerdtfeger Library website and digital collections will appear at the top.
This new feature is important for our intellectual visibility on campus for students, faculty, researchers or anyone who uses the library catalog and website.
The main library website, along with those of Steenbock, College, and Chemistry libraries, have been redesigned. At the same time, the libraries have implemented a new content management system and have begun to finalize other infrastructure updates. The intention is to create a unified look across all libraries to improve usability for everyone.
Stay tuned for upcoming changes to the Schwerdtfeger Library website as we also strive to meet and anticipate research, user, and collections needs.