Concordia's print and digital collections — at your fingertips
“From a single search box, users can easily access our large and growing digital collection … and do it with very few clicks,” says Mia Massicotte, systems librarian and project lead for the discovery search.
Pamela Carson is Concordia's web services librarian.
Concordia’s library website now features a single search box, also known as the discovery search. Launched in beta on the library’s website last September, it simplifies how users find the vast majority of physical and digital collections.
For undergraduate students, the discovery search is a big help for finding books and articles on a topic ― a basic requirement for writing research papers.
It’s also a boon to interdisciplinary researchers, who, from one spot, can explore a treasure trove of resources on any subject.
Librarians have long realized the need for a single search point to facilitate access to print and digital collections. This need was echoed by those who responded a 2013 survey that measured the quality of library services. Respondents asked for the website to be more like Google. They requested one search box on the main page that would explore all resources at the same time.
“The strength of the discovery search is in revealing the rich content contained within the library's collection,” says Mia Massicotte, systems librarian and project lead for the discovery search.
“From a single search box, users can easily access our large and growing digital collection, which includes full-text journal articles, ebooks, image banks, streaming video and audio, together with print and media materials we have on site ― and do it with very few clicks.”
Check it out
Now live, the discovery search box has a prominent place on the library’s new homepage.
Website redesign
In 2014, the library interviewed over 70 students and faculty about their wish list for the library’s website. The redesign brings many of these suggestions to life.
You’ll find a simplified main navigation, sleek icons and images, dynamic display of library hours, events’ listings and desktop computer availability.
Want to learn more?
Starting this winter term, librarians will teach the ins and outs of the discovery search in workshops.
The library welcomes feedback on the discovery search, its redesigned website, as well as on its library services, collections and facilities.
Try Concordia’s libraries’ new discovery search tool.