In response to user feedback and as an outcome of the recent K-12 project, the NCLOR has added some new search features for NCCCS users.

Dashboard Additions

The North Carolina Community College System faculty users will now see a new portlet on their dashboard called “Welcome!”. The Welcome! search portlet is an area that displays shortcuts to the keyword search, browse, the advanced search functionality. The tabs allow for quick access to custom searching in the NCLOR. The Welcome search portlet also displays short descriptions of the differences between browsing, keyword and advanced searching.

Figure 1: Screenshot of Welcome! portlet with tabs and search descriptions highlighted

The portlet has been customized to display different logos, browses, or advanced searches depending on which NCLOR user group you are in. Therefore, NCCCS users and K-12 users may see different logos images, or the tabs to the Browses and Advanced Search areas will link to lists that are relevant to them. The Welcome! portlet can be closed or removed  from your dashboard if so desired.

Navigation Menu Additions

Figure 2: The Start a New Search or Browse buttons

Two new buttons have been added to the main navigation menu in the NCLOR. With the latest update to NCLOR, the application has the ability to remember the last search or browse the user was viewing before selecting a specific resource to view. This is great feature but it can be confusing to some users. When clicked, the “Start a New Search” or “Start a New Browse” buttons will clear the current search query and present a new search or browse page.

Note: The new features listed above apply to the main interface of NCLOR and not the learning management system integrations. The LMS interfaces have not changed.