On July 24, 2025, the Stanford University Libraries released a new version of SearchWorks, its all-in-one library catalog and articles+ search engine. While SearchWorks typically sees annual updates, this new version 4.0 contains the largest set of enhancements since version 3.0 was released in 2018.
The latest version of SearchWorks has an updated look-and-feel, with a contemporary design. A major focus for this release was simplifying and streamlining the information provided while addressing the patron’s key information needs as reflected through years of feedback and extensive user testing.
Some of the key advances include:
- New homepages for Catalog (for Stanford’s 12 million+ items in our holdings) & Articles+ (for searching hundreds of millions of articles we subscribe to), and improved method to switch between the two.
- Updated filters (aka facets or limits), making it easier to refine results. You can now search within many filters, such as Author, Genre, or Topic.
- Handy tools, such as cite and email, are now available directly from search results.
- Enhanced information display shows where items are available across Stanford’s 20+ libraries and makes it easier to browse or search for items (especially when there are many volumes held by multiple libraries).
- Advanced search is now more powerful! Users can build a more sophisticated query and use all search filters to refine results. And when applying filters, we’ve added the ability to exclude values.
- Improved search for Databases. Simply start typing a subject or title and a drop-down list will appear.
SearchWorks is based on Blacklight, widely-adopted open source software maintained by Stanford University Libraries, among many other institutions. By using open source software, Stanford is able to customize our discovery applications to best meet the unique needs of our collections and patrons.
This new release is the culmination of more than nine months planning, design and programming. It represents the work of scores of Libraries’ staff members who provided input on opportunities for new features and functional enhancements, helped review designs, managed the supporting metadata, and participated in the testing.
As with any of our services, the Libraries seek feedback from our patrons. Guests may send their questions, comments, and suggestions on the Feedback link in the top right corner on all SearchWorks pages. (We respond to every single one.)
