An online survey is available for you to send us your thoughts about the new homepage! Your feedback will help us to improve our services to you.

Q. Why was the home page redesigned?

A. To provide better access to the library's services and online content and also to incorporate a new technology called federated searching. The redesign also makes use of advances in web technology (XHTML+CSS) to make it more accessible to users who require adaptive technology to use the web.

Q. Why wasn't the whole web site redesigned?

A. The short answer is time. A new home page design was necessary to incorporate federated searching, the technology behind "Quick Search." We did not want to delay access to this exciting new service by having to wait for an entire site redesign. The library's web site has grown to over 13,000 files; therefore, the site will be redesigned in phases during the next two academic years.

Q. What is Quick Search? What is federated searching?

A. "Quick Search" is a single search box that will provide you with results from our Top Twelve databases and the Skyline catalog. It makes searching the library's online content more like searching the Internet with Google or Yahoo! Federated searching is a means of cross searching more than one online library resource at the same time. The library has contracted with Serials Solutions, LLC, to provide the software, called 360 Search, for this service. We hope that this service will assist researchers of all levels of experience delve deeper into the rich variety of online content that the Auraria Library provides. The new service will be more fully implemented throughout the library web site during the Fall 2007 semester.

Q. What are the Top Twelve databases?

A. They are, in no particular order: LexisNexis Academic, JSTOR, Academic Search Premier, OneFile, Science Direct, PsycINFO, Education Full Text, Business Source Premier, CQ Researcher, the Gale Virtual Reference Library, Biographies Plus, and the MLA Bibliography.

These twelve were chosen by the reference librarians as the "best bets" for returning results for most types of searches. Advanced searching on a topic, however, should still be conducted in the databases' "native" interfaces. The Databases A-Z list is still available under "Research Tools"=>"Databases."

Q. How did you decide what to put on the new page?

A. The Web Librarian, under the direction of the library Web Advisory Committee, conducted an extensive usability test during the Fall semester. Students of all research ability levels from all three Auraria institutions participated in an exercise and completed a survey to provide data and input on what a new home page should look like. Their biggest complaint about the old home page was lack of functionality: one could only search for a book or choose from an overwhelming menu of over 40 links. The new design allows researchers to dive right in to our most popular resources and services.

Q. What about all of those links? How do I find something that used to be linked right from the home page?

A. The links that have been removed are accessible in two ways. First, they have been collapsed into drop down menus in the dark green navigation bar, under the headings of Research Tools, Library Services, Research Guides, and Library Info. Second, the new Google web site search box in the upper right corner will return the correct result for any link phrase that used on the old home page. For example, typing "faculty: schedule a class" will direct faculty members wishing to schedule intstruction to the correct form.

Q. But my assignment sheets for the fall refer to the old home page. How will I/my students find the resources I/they need using the new home page?

A. The old home page will be available as an alternate interface through the Fall 2007 semester. Simply click on the "switch to previous version" link to access it. However, please note that this page will be maintained only minimally. All library users should become familiar with the new home page during the fall semester.

Q. I have bookmarks/links to library web pages in my browser/class web page. Will these be broken?

A. If they are relatively current, no. The home page redesign was the very first phase of an overall site redesign, and no content in the underlying pages has been removed. As different portions of the site are redesigned, we will advertise the changes to the campus community and provide temporary redirects to new URLs, where necessary.

Q. The new page doesn't display correctly in my web browser. What can I do?

A. Report browser and/or accessibility problems immediately to Nina McHale, Web Librarian, nina.mchale@cudenver.edu. The new home page was tested extensively in the versions of browsers that Auraria Library patrons use most: Internet Explorer, Netscape, Firefox (for PC and Mac), and Safari.

Q. Whom can I contact if I have questions about the new design?

A. Nina McHale, Web Librarian, nina.mchale@cudenver.edu