Explore – soft launch of new interface

A new version of the Explore search tool will be made available on Monday 4 September, in a ‘soft’ launch alongside the current interface.  The new mobile-friendly version will be reviewed and developed over the coming months in preparation for replacing the old interface at an appropriate time.

You can try out the new interface now and send your feedback through the form on the information page, or by commenting on this post.

The new interface searches all of the same content as Explore, and connects to the same library user accounts, but delivers some key benefits:

• New look and feel, which adapts to your screen size
• Single screen for each search result, reducing the number of clicks
• On-screen text stripped back to essentials, for a cleaner view

It is still a work in progress and we are already aware of some issues with the new interface, which are being addressed with the supplier.  The two searches will run in parallel whilst we evaluate the new version, including consulting library users, and we will notify everyone well in advance of plans to retire the old version.

The new interface is based on an out-of-the box version from the suppliers, Ex Libris, and has been adapted by a working group of members from the Digital Libraries Team and Explore Advisory Group.