Library Launches New Search Functionality
On June 13, 2023, the University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press moved its catalog, DELCAT, to a new cloud-based services platform, providing students, faculty and researchers with an enhanced, user-friendly discovery experience with simplified searching.
The new platform is a next-generation unified research management system that delivers seamless collaboration between the Library and campus systems, and ensures Library operations are connected across teaching and research initiatives. This platform is currently in use at hundreds of academic libraries. Features include:
- Enhanced search capabilities and a more intuitive user-interface
- Better visibility and discovery of local collections and resources
- The ability to virtually browse in a variety of ways
- Analytics that will allow Library staff to make better-informed, evidence-based decisions
While the front-end interface of the catalog now looks different, Library staff have spent the past year preparing for the integration by ensuring data is migrated fully to the new catalog platform on the back-end. However, any links that pointed to course readings and research materials accessed through the former platform or any saved lists within a user’s individual account are no longer available.
The Library will resume the purchase of Library materials, previously on hold during the platform migration, in late July 2023. All faculty requests received during the transition will also now be honored.
Throughout the summer, faculty will have many avenues of support for becoming familiar with the new catalog. In addition to communication from liaison librarians, the Library will offer tutorials and guides that show new features of the enhanced catalog after its launch as well as workshops and consultations at the Keep Calm and Teach On event in August.
The Library’s DELCAT Implementation Team is available to answer any questions that you have related to this change via email at delcat@udel.edu.