Te rapu kōrero i ngā kohinga
Collections search improvements
Find out what we’re doing to improve Collections search. Learn more about current issues and how we’re addressing them.
Since we launched Collections search in February 2022, we’ve received feedback that it isn’t meeting users’ needs.
We understand some of the site’s current limitations and issues with its performance have disrupted the work of many users. We apologise for the frustration and difficulty this has caused and we are actively working to improve the experience for our users.
How we’re improving Collections search
We’re working to improve the site in three main ways.
Fixing key issues
We have compiled a list of issues and areas for improvement. These were identified through our feedback channels, during workshops with users and undertaking user experience research which involved volunteers from our co-design group.
The list of issues and areas for improvement have been prioritised into three categories:
must do,
should do and
could do.
The list has been shared with our vendor, Axiell, so they can provide an estimate of time, resource requirements and cost to address the list of issues. We will then assess what can be addressed with the available funds and resources.
Listening to users
We have established a co-design group consisting of volunteers (researchers/information management professionals) that use Collections search.
This group help us with user testing, advice and feedback. Most recently, members have been involved in workshops and user experience research.
If you have time available and you’d like to join this group, please use the Ask an archivist form and we’ll be in touch
Creating a roadmap for continuous improvement
The version of Collections search we launched in February 2022 was an initial version we intend to keep improving and tailoring to suit our users’ needs.
We have a dedicated project team working to prioritise and deliver fixes for known issues, improvements and enhancements.
Troubleshooting known issues
We’ve received feedback on several issues and have provided some additional information below.
Accounts and RealMe
Some users have found it difficult to create Collections search accounts or log in with RealMe. We will be working with RealMe and our vendor to improve the user journey for this.
Get help online
To sign up for Collections search, you’ll need a RealMe login. Start by signing up to Collections search using our registration form. From there, you’ll be redirected to RealMe to complete the process.
For more detailed instructions, follow the steps in our online guide. If you get stuck, you can contact us or RealMe .
Read our guide to creating a Collections search account
Internal errors
If you see an internal error message when using Collections search, you may need to clear your browser’s cache.
Clearing your cache
Below are basic instructions for clearing the cache when using some popular browsers. Browsers are updated often, so the steps you need to follow may change without warning. For more information, we recommend searching the web for detailed instructions on how to clear your specific browser’s cache.
It’s also important to note that clearing the cache may increase the loading time of some websites. It can also cause issues with login sessions or saved preferences.
-
Google Chrome
Click the 3 dots in the top-right corner of the browser.
Click "More tools" and then "Clear browsing data".
Select "Cached images and files" and any other data you want to remove.
Click "Clear data".
-
Mozilla Firefox
Click the 3 lines in the top-right corner of the browser.
Click "Options".
Click "Privacy & Security".
Scroll down to "Cookies and Site Data" and click "Clear Data".
Make sure "Cached Web Content" is selected and click "Clear".
-
Apple Safari
Click "Safari" in the top-left corner of the browser.
Click "Preferences".
Click "Advanced".
Check "Show Develop menu in menu bar".
Click "Develop" in the top menu and then "Empty Caches".
-
Microsoft Edge
Click the 3 dots in the top-right corner of the browser.
Click "Settings".
Click "Privacy, search and services".
Click "Clear browsing data".
Select "Cached images and files" and any other data you want to remove.
Click "Clear now".
Search functionality
Some users have found the search functions available in Collections search lacking compared to our old system, Archway.
We have recently made some improvements to the search functionality on Collections search. We hope these updates will help you find what you're looking for more easily.
Read more about the updates we’ve made to the Collections search
In addition to this, our recent user experience research has identified areas for improvement which will inform future decisions on how to enhance our customers’ experience.
Search help
We can help if you need to search within a series or accession.
Use the Ask an archivist form to send us a question, or read our guidance on getting started with searching on Collection search.
Search results display
Some users find the way search results display unhelpful and difficult to navigate.
What we’re doing
We’ll continue working with users and our vendor to improve the user experience. We’re committed to user testing any substantial changes we make to the site in the future.
Send us feedback
Contact us if you’re experiencing an issue with Collections search, or if you want to give us feedback on the site. We'll use your feedback to inform decision making and future developments.
Contact us through the Ask an Archivist form.