Library Services

EBSCO Launches New Interface for K-12 Schools

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 02/03/15

EBSCO has launched a new EBSCOhost interface, Explora, designed specifically for K-12 schools and public libraries.

Launching in February, the new interface is based on the results of user studies and comes in multiple versions for students, teachers, librarians and library patrons. All versions are compatible with mobile devices and have a single search box, browse-able topic categories arranged by popularity, topic overviews and the ability to limit results by source type.

"Educators can discover grade-appropriate content in Explora by limiting results according to reading levels and make use of highly relevant educator support materials such as ready-to-use lesson plans, classroom activities and rubrics," according to a news release. "A Curriculum Standards Module allows educators to browse Common Core, state- and province-specific curriculum standards, many of which have recommended search strings for successful content retrieval."

EBSCO will update the interface throughout 2015, adding features such as new result lists, context-sensitive panels, a landing page for educators, access to Associated Press videos for MAS and MasterFILE customers and improved access to biographies, primary sources, images and more.

"We used the input we received from user research to design a user experience that would engage students and public library patrons, while also offering teachers and librarians the tools they need to help students best utilize the authoritative content available in EBSCO databases," said Michael Laddin, senior vice president of product management at EBSCO, in a prepared statement.

More information is available at ebscohost.com.