December, 2025 – UW Libraries has launched a new website! The comprehensive site redesign reflects input from multiple user studies over several years as well as input from faculty, staff and community members. The Libraries worked with Pyramid Communications to reimagine one of the University’s largest and most widely-used websites with a goal to significantly improve the user experience through more streamlined content, intuitive language and navigation.

Some of the most significant changes include: 

• A top level navigation that more directly connects users to Research Services, Teaching Support and Student Programs  
• A more centralized approach to organizing research services by type, rather than by location, including support for Publishing, Data Services, Digital Project Design, Subject Experts, and more  
• The ability to filter search of library locations, news and staff directories by specific subjects and criteria
• Centralization of Locations and Technologies to more clearly identify the variety of study spaces and technical equipment available to check out throughout all libraries locations 
• Dedicated pages to highlight and explore select collections 

The redesign does not include content hosted by other platforms such as UW Libraries Search, databases, Research Guides, and others. Some Research Guides may have changed due to consolidation or new guides created during the redesign process. In addition, a separate, but coordinated update to the UW Libraries Search user interface, is also live, with the option to beta test many new and exciting search tools and capabilities.

“The new web site has been a significant, multi-year undertaking involving many stakeholders across the Libraries with the shared goal to make finding services, resources and support easier for all users,” says Simon Neame, Dean of UW Libraries.

The project was led by a core team of members from UW Libraries’ Information Technology Services & Digital Strategies, Communications and Research and Learning Services units. 

“We look forward to sharing the new site and continuing to improve it based on further user testing and community input,” said John Borwick, Director of Information Technology Services & Digital Strategies.

As with any significant change, it may take some time to re-learn where to find things that are now in a different location.  Researchers should be aware that while redirects have been created to maintain legacy links, faculty, staff and students should test links in their materials to determine if the redirect is sufficient, or if links in their materials need to be updated. 

The Libraries team appreciates the community’s understanding and patience while corrections and adjustments are made during the initial launch period. 

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For help finding specific content in the new web site, Ask Us!

December 16, 2025 

UW Libraries has launched a new, optional beta version of Libraries Search with several new and exciting features that will help users navigate to and discover resources, including the Research Assistant artificial intelligence (AI) feature. Input from this trial period will help to inform and improve the new version of the software for an official launch in fall 2026, barring any significant issues. 

Same as the current Search platform, no personal data will be collected on users who choose to try out the beta version, but users will have the option to offer anonymous feedback on their experience through a form on the beta site.

When users select Try the BETA! from the Search box, they will be able to utilize new features such as:  

• Natural language search – users can type a narrative-style prompt about the type of material they want to find, including subject, desired format and other details to narrow the search, rather than having to select pre-determined filters
• Research Assistant (AI Tool)- Users can ask research questions, and results provided are based solely on the UW Libraries catalog, eliminating the possibility of AI “hallucinations” based on incorrect combinations of inputs from unreliable external sources
• Resource Recommender – will help identify and link directly to common resources that have historically been very difficult to find and access easily with simple keywords such as “NY Times”
• Person Pages: serves as a central hub for all information related to a specific individual within the library’s search environment including a specific author, historical figures, people in news, etc. 

UW Libraries ITDS team has been working collaboratively with the vendor on the new user interface over the past three years, leading focus groups, conducting user experience testing and providing technical guidance on accessibility throughout the process. The new version will also meet all new accessibility requirements and standards for web-based information.

“As the product hasn’t been updated in nearly a decade, this truly is a critical technological upgrade from the existing product,” says Anne Pepitone, Head, Integrated Library Systems.  “Once people start using it, the benefits will be clear compared to the current experience, it is just so much more intuitive and user-friendly.” 

An FAQ with more detailed information about the beta version, new features, and more is available in the following guides:

• Beta Research Guide (main guide)
• New Features
• Research Assistant (Search AI Tool)