Moved availability section higher up on all record pages and added new "Details" section for record information
Added "Request item from Charles Library BookBot" to request options, which allows users to retrieve items specifically from the Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS)
Added availability status "Available (Pending Request)" for when a title has been requested but a specific item has not yet been selected (previously potential items were all displaying the availability status of "Requested")
Added option to specify the Material Type field (ex. DVD, Blu-ray) for relevant request forms
Updated logic used to determine whether or not the Description field (ex. issues, volumes) appears as an option in relevant request forms
Updated text and styling of request button and forms to improve the overall user experience, including changing header for intralibrary transfers from "Request item" to "Request item from another Temple campus or remote storage" and header for the E-ZBorrow search from "Request item from another library" to "Request item that is not available at Temple"
Updated confirmation message that appears within the Library Search after a successfully Alma request is submitted ("Your request has been submitted. You will receive an email notification when an item is ready for pickup. See My Account for status information about your request.")
Updated styling for availability sections to match the look and feel of the new website design
Updated styling on My Library Account pages and moved "My Requests" section to the top of the page
Updated display name for the DSC library code to "Duckworth Scholars Studio" as well as display names for other updated location codes
Removed temporary "Not available pending move" availability status displays, with the exception of SCRC items
On Monday, the Blacklight team released an update coordinated with the launch of the new library website. Today, we will roll out additional changes in anticipation of Charles Library opening. For more details, see the Blacklight release notes 8/23/2019.
This includes the introduction of the Bookbot request option in the Library Search. Please keep in mind, though, that the BookBot retrieval process will not be fully operational until Sunday at 12pm.
Another top priority is the creation of a basic call number browse, which is currently in active development. Unfortunately, this will not be ready for production by the start of the semester. For now, feel free to communicate to any students or faculty who ask that this feature is coming but not yet ready. I understand that many people are interested in the call number browse, and I will communicate out as we make progress.
Library staff may continue to provide input about the Library Search via tul-web-support@temple.edu.
Integrated the new website data into the Library Search results, including a complete search interface/index, record displays, and facets for Website results
Updated navigation menus and overall styling of the Library Search to match new website design
Updated text and static links that point to website content
Improved mobile and responsive views for the Library Search, including search results and menus
For more details, see Discovery updates 8/16/2019.
On Monday August 19th, the Blacklight team will release new updates, coordinated with the rollout of the new library website (see Blacklight release notes 8/19/2019). This will include major changes to overall styling of the site and in particular the top menu of the Library Search, so that the interface matches what will appear on the new website.
We’ve also added website content to the Library Search, which can either be accessed via the “Everything” search results or the new “Website” search results. This includes links to pages about people, libraries, spaces, collections, services, policies, forms, and events. Finding Aid pages will also accessible through this search feature. At this time, this does not include research guides.
We are also in the process of finalizing updates to the Library Search that will be rolled out with the opening of Charles Library, including the introduction of BookBot request option and changes to improve the visibility of availability information on both computers and mobile devices. For example, we’re moving the availability section higher up on all record pages so that it appears “above the fold” (i.e. a patron will not need to scroll down in order to find this information in most cases).
In addition, the Website & Library Search User Experience Research Group is conducting UX testing on our request features, which may lead to additional improvements to our request process online. This has been prioritized because of the increased importance of requests with the introduction of the BookBot in Charles. The Blacklight team is also actively developing a basic call number browse, which we will share a preview for as soon as it is ready.
Library staff may continue to provide input about the Library Search via tul-web-support@temple.edu.