Western Libraries to unveil improved search function June 18

Big changes are coming to the Western Libraries this summer—changes that will improve the ability of students, faculty, and staff to find just what they’re looking for when it comes to information and research materials at the library.

Starting June 18, Western Libraries will replace its current, separate catalog and database interfaces with a new integrated discovery layer, OneSearch, which will return search results from the catalog, databases, journals, and other collections regardless of material format. OneSearch makes it easy to find resources and more at Western’s Libraries or through any of the 37 university libraries that are part of the Orbis Cascade Alliance. Think of it as the Google search for the Western Libraries.

Western, along with the University of Washington, is in the first group of Alliance members to launch the new system, with the others to follow over the next 18 months. Once complete, this shared library system will give users access to 8.8 million titles and more than 26 million resources that are held by the Orbis Cascade Alliance members. All of that will be right at users’ fingertips.

The upcoming changes are significant and won't be without some bumps along the way, especially during the summer. A large and dedicated group of Library faculty and staff will regularly be testing and improving functionality day by day. OneSearch is quite the transition for us, but we’re excited for the improved experience it will bring to our users once the new system is fully tested and implemented. Much more information and training on OneSearch will be available by Fall Quarter.

If you have any questions about how OneSearch will help meet the Libraries' strategic goals to advance teaching and research, please contact Dean of Libraries Mark Greenberg at mark.greenberg@wwu.edu.