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Release Notes and Issues

Release Notes and Issues

Owned by Jessica Rohr
Last updated: 2025-01-15
3 min read

January 2025

Release Name: “Original Location” in Advanced Search

Product/Service: HathiTrust Digital Library Advanced Search

Release Date: December 19, 2024

Who does this impact? Those who use Advanced Search; Contributing Libraries.

  •  When conducting an Advanced Search, you can now limit search results to a specific “Original Location.” The “Original Location” specifies which HathiTrust member library contributed a digital item to the HathiTrust collection. All 60+ contributing libraries are included in the list on the Advanced Search page.

  • This may be of particular interest to library workers at contributing libraries and others who may wish to search within the volumes of a single contributor. By using this search option and selecting the “Always use the Full Text Index” checkbox, you can search within the digital items from that contributing library’s collection. By unchecking the box and using one of the field options (Title, Author, Subject, ISBN/ISSN, Publisher, Series) you can search within the catalog records from that contributing library's collection. 

  • This new option is in addition to the existing “Original Location” search facet in the sidebar of a search results page. The sidebar search facet is limited in that it displays only the top 30 contributors and may be selected only after conducting your search.

August 2024

Release Name: August 2024 Accessibility update to HathiTrust website and digital library

Release Date: July 29-August 16, 2024

Who does this impact? If you use screen reader programs, use high zoom levels, or navigate primarily with your keyboard, you may notice improvements as you use the digital library services. 

Impact: 

  • Removed YouTube video embed on our home page

  • Enhanced tooltips in the book reading interface so they are dismissible, hoverable, and persistent. You can now select the text within a tooltip and dismiss it using the ESC key on your keyboard, and the tooltips remain visible until mouse hover or keyboard focus is moved. More information is also included in the tooltips, such as the degree to which you are rotating a page or zooming in.  

  • Resolved focus indicator issues lingering since our last release notes.

  • Reconfigured the Advanced Search screen and our cookie consent banner screens to ensure content can be accessed at higher zoom levels. 

Read more on the HathiTrust website.

July 2024

Release Name: July 2024 Accessibility update to HathiTrust website and digital library

Release Date: July 23, 2024

Who does this impact? If you use screen reader programs or primarily navigate websites with a  keyboard you may notice the changes listed below. Sighted individuals or those who use a mouse may notice some visual changes. 

  • The color of the focus indicator changed to blue and is now more noticeable. Focus indicators appear around components such as the search bar, buttons, links, text inputs, etc., when you tab into the component or select it with your mouse. (WCAG 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast)

  • In search results and collection listing pages, links to Catalog Records, Full View, Limited (search only), and “Multiple Items” will read the title associated with that link will be announced when a screen reader user selects the link. (WCAG 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context))

  • Search and support forms have improved accessibility, making it easier to submit searches and support requests. 

  • The row colors of the Item Viewability tables on catalog records have been tweaked to pass color contrast requirements. 

  • Frequently accessed WordPress pages were reviewed and updated to ensure that headings and lists are correctly marked up in HTML and that images have meaningful alt text. 

Read more on the HathiTrust website.

  • Retirement of HathiTrust Data API 

Date Effective: Wednesday, July 17, 2024

We have retired the HathiTrust Data API due to low usage and to address potential security concerns. The HathiTrust Data API allowed end users to retrieve some HathiTrust content programmatically. It was a tool built early in the history of HathiTrust Digital Library, long before other, more robust services like the HathiTrust Research Center or the Datasets Service. Over time, the use cases that the Data API had originally been built to meet were better served through other services. 

Anyone who attempts to access either the Data API Web Client or access the Data API access point will encounter an error. Please review other service options, such as Research Datasets or the HathiTrust Research Center.  Contact HathiTrust at support@hathitrust.org with questions.

April 2024

  • Added a “Close” button to the cookie consent banner which sets the cookie preferences to reject all but necessary cookies.

March 2024