Library News and Events: Library News

Changes to the Quick Topic Search and EBSCOhost databases

Our Quick Topic Search and EBSCOhost databases will have a new look and feel as of April 22.

Why are things changing?

The new interfaces are designed with accessibility and user experience in mind.

The new UI is designed to be compatible with the following assistive technologies:

• Chrome with JAWS on Windows
• Firefox with NVDA on Windows
• Safari with VoiceOver on MacOS
• Safari with VoiceOver on iOS
• Chrome with Talkback on Android

Additional accessibility features:

• Text-to-speech feature on HTML full-text articles, including MP3 download for multi-modal learning and portability
• Headings and landmarks for screen reader navigation
• Descriptive text for images and non-text elements
• Accessible full-text formats such as HTML, EPUB and articles free of Digital Rights Management (DRM-free)
• Transcripts for videos
• Responsive user interfaces for access on different sized devices
• Auto Suggest and Auto Correct functionality
• Simplified design to reduce cognitive load
• Quick filters for a more accessible experience

For user experience, the designers looked at student research needs and behaviours, conducting lots of user testing. Some changes that came from this research are a prominent dashboard to help students organize and save their research, reducing the number of filters and limiters on display, and enabling users to get a persistent, shareable link from the browser's address bar.

What are some of the big changes?

• Filters are at the top of the page, rather than the sidebar, and there are quick filters for Full Text, Peer Reviewed, Source Type, and Date
• Concept map allowing for users to explore ideas
• PICOT search tool to help formulate clinical research questions
• Permalinks can now be copied from the browser address bar or from the Share menu
• Related Resources tool to recommend databases or assignment guides that may help based on your search

If you have any questions, please contact us at libref@langara.ca