August 2010

We have just launched a new homepage. This is the result of consultation with Library members through a survey and usability testing. 

Common tasks are quicker and easier

The things you want to do most frequently are now on the homepage: 

• opening hours – this week’s Main Library opening hours will be on the homepage, enabling you to check them quickly and easily
• Unicorn search box more prominent – most people come to the Library website to search the catalogue, so we have moved it to centre stage
• help for your subject easy to access via a new pick-list - jump straight to our subject help pages to find the most relevant resources and information for you
• direct pointers to help in finding journal articles – our usability testing showed that finding journal articles is a challenge for our members. This new section on our homepage guides you to our help and resources.

Keep up to date more easily

We have launched a Library news blog enabling you to keep up-to-date with the latest news on our services and facilities in several ways: 

• through a feed displaying on the Library homepage
• by going directly to the blog at www.reading.ac.uk/blogs/librarynews
• or by subscribing to the RSS feed http://www.reading.ac.uk/blogs/librarynews/feed/

Feedback

If you have any comments on our new homepage, or any other aspect of the Library website, please contact Jackie Skinner, Library Web Manager.

On 23 August we launched an upgraded and refreshed Unicorn catalogue.

New features

• Limit your search to online resources
  Just click in a checkbox on the search page to limit your search to electronic resources. This may be useful if you are unable to come into the Library and want to find out if we have a relevant e-book title. It also allows you just to search for e-journals using the journal title search option.
• Login using your University username and password
  If you are a member of the University you can login using your University username and password – the same one you use to access your email and Blackboard.
• View your charge history
  Login to your account to view a list of all the items you have borrowed from the Library in the past 6 months.
• Easy access to other Library information
  On the Unicorn search page we have added links to some key pages on the Library website.

The new look Unicorn searchpage