Searching for the right resources for your next research project just got a lot easier. That’s thanks to a dedicated team that helped the Max R. Traurig Library at Naugatuck Valley Community College move to a new search system interface called “NV Search.” Now, with just a few clicks and keystrokes, NV Search provides one-stop searching for books and e-books, videos, articles, and digital media for anyone who wants to search through the College’s vast collection or discover resources. For those on the go, the best part about the new interface is that it’s 100% mobile friendly meaning that users can access the system from any smart phone. The system is shared by all Connecticut State Colleges and Universities as well as the Connecticut State Library, and will allow for resource sharing and delivery of items between institutions. A good tip for an optimal experience is to sign-in. That’s because signing in helps users manage their research and enables them to view a dashboard that lets library patrons:

• Renew books and videos
• Create “favorites” lists
• Export citations to Refworks and Endnote Web
• View full search results. (Some databases only show results when you're signed in.)

The implementation of NV Search is part of a two-year effort called the integrated library project which is led by the Connecticut State College and Universities (CSCU). Goals of the project include:

• Improved discovery of resources and provision of a seamless library experience
• Increased depth and diversity of library collections and a broad sharing of resources
• Efficiencies in workflows through a shared, reduced-maintenance environment
• Establishment of a common platform to build additional collaborative CSCU library initiatives
• Increased library staff time dedicated to direct student services

Unifying the library resources for the 17-school CSCU system was no easy task. Jaime Hammond, Director of Library Services at NVCC served as the Implementation Committee Co-Chair and was recently thanked for her service by CSCU President Mark E. Ojakian.

“This is an example of collaboration that was successful out of the gate,” says Hammond, “It will open up lots of possibilities and will help refine teaching through the data that the system provides us.” As the implementation is under two months old, Hammond says library staff are still working to improve the user experience based on the feedback they receive by making slight adjustments to the interface.  Look for NV Search on the Library’s homepageto try it out!