JSTOR Launches New Platform

April 2008—JSTOR, the scholarly journal digital archive, has updated its site with a new interface featuring more tools and capabilities.  The new platform was launched on April 4, 2008.

The new JSTOR platform includes:

• A new look
• A single, improved format of PDF files, to simplify printing expand accessibility.  This enables users to find words and phrases within the PDF version of articles, as well as copy and paste portions of text from them.  The new PDF files are generally smaller in file size for quicker viewing and reduced download times
• Personalized account functionality, called "MyJSTOR," where users may store information and saved citations and select one-time acceptance of JSTOR's Terms and Conditions for PDF access
• More efficient navigation of the site
• The ability to search within result sets
• Limit by discipline on the basic search form
• Select Recent Search
• Search term highlighting.  When searching within JSTOR, a user’s search term(s) will appear highlighted within the article, allowing you to locate your search term(s) more easily within the context of the article text as you browse through the pages.
• Thumbnail views of article pages: see full articles at a glance

With a goal of enhancing the user experience, JSTOR says development has been informed by user feedback, interviews, focus groups, usability studies, and beta testing with students, researchers, librarians, and publishers.  JSTOR will monitor the feedback they receive regarding the new look.  Feedback forms via a "Contact Us" link are in the top right corner of every screen.  Training materials on the "new" JSTOR include PowerPoint presentations on the JSTOR interface and the new JSTOR features.  Visit JSTOR's training page for links to more tutorials.

The Marquette Libraries joined JSTOR in 1997 as a charter member.  The archive has grown to now encompass more than 750 journals and 25 million pages.  The Marquette community clearly values access to this archive; a 2007 usage summary reported 61,096 searches and 52,422 article prints/downloads.  Effective summer 2007, off-campus use of JSTOR requires VPN (more information on VPN).

For questions about JSTOR, please contact Jay Kirk (288-5213), Head of Collection Development.