Library Blogs

In 2024, updates to the Plain Language Medical Dictionary (PLMD) included big improvements for accessibility and user experience, plus adding support for images. We fixed contrast issues, unclear icons, and missing labels to meet WCAG 2.1. Search also got smoother, and instructions are now clearer. In addition, we added image support with JSON updates for URLs and alt text. With our legacy hosting environment shutting down, we moved the PLMD moved to GitHub Pages as part of the project. This provides better stability and automatic updates via GitHub Actions.

Library Student Ambassadors invited students to blindly choose their next read.

Join us next Thursday, 20 February, between 4-6p for our next Third Thursdays at the Library event of the semester!

This blog post explores the challenges faced by novice users of the University of Michigan's Library Search interface, drawing on user research conducted with undergraduate students and librarians. The research aimed to understand how students approach library searches, to identify their pain points, and learn how they navigate the Everything results page. By gaining insights into these areas, the research aimed to identify opportunities for improvement and inform the design of more user-friendly library search tools.

This Bits & Pieces blog post talks about the Detroit Metro Area Communities Study (DMACS) and its expansion, the Michigan Metro Area Communities Study (MIMACS), and their initial releases of closed-ended response data via the U-M Library's Deep Blue Data platform.

toneCarrier Film Carrier

Inspired by his passion for Dutch language and culture, Ton Broos left a legacy of academic excellence and cultural preservation through funds that bring the past to the present.

A 3D printed case for the Touch ID component of an Apple Magic Keyboard.

You Can Creat Any Characters' Headpiece from Scratch!

Printing a custom case for my modular synth