The Infobase Platform Upgrade: K-12 FAQ

Answers about the December 2026 Infobase platform upgrade, including preview access, logins, and admin settings.

In December, Infobase will upgrade several K-12 subscriptions to the new Infobase platform. The answers below explain what changes for your school and what, if anything, you need to do. For an overview of the platform, visit the K-12 platform page.

Questions?

About the Upgrade

What is changing in December?

In late December, Infobase will move your upgrading subscriptions to the new Infobase platform. Your students will use the same content with a new interface and new research tools, including Mind Map and Topic Assistant. The specific date will be announced in December, but timing will coincide with Winter Break schedules.

Which products are upgrading in December?

Bloom’s Literature, Classroom Video On Demand, Credo Reference, Credo Source, Feature Films for Education, Health Reference Center, History Center (African American History, American History, American Indian History, Ancient and Medieval History, Issues & Controversies in History, Modern World History, and World Religions), Infobase eBooks, Issues & Controversies, Science Center (Science Online, Today’s Science), and World News Digest. The product status table at the bottom of this page shows every Infobase product and its platform date.

Does the upgrade change my subscription price or terms?

No. The upgrade is part of your current subscription, and your terms remain the same. There is no additional charge for the upgrade.

Why is Infobase upgrading the platform?

The new platform gives students one access point for every upgraded Infobase subscription and adds research supports that help students develop information literacy skills. It also aligns with WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility standards. The K-12 platform page explains the research behind the design.

Preview and Timing

When can I preview the new platform?

Previews are available to administrators today and will be available until the upgrade in December.

How do I open the preview?

The platform preview is accessible from your Infobase admin portal. 

  • Enter the portal, where you will see a series of placards. The top placard should now read, “Infobase Platform.”
  • Click the “Open Product” button at the top right of the placard. This will open the preview of the new platform.
  • If you have multiple Infobase subscriptions, you can preview each subscription within this single platform view. Use the dropdown menu that is part of the search bar to switch between your subscriptions.
Can teachers and students use the preview?

The preview is exclusively available to administrators, so as not to distract or confuse other users.

Can I switch to the new platform before December?

Yes! If you are excited and eager to upgrade right away, contact your Customer Success Manager to discuss your options. 

Do I need to do anything before the upgrade?

No action is required. We recommend reviewing the preview and joining a K-12 webinar in mid-November so you are ready to answer questions from teachers and students.

Will there be any downtime during the switch?

There is no anticipated downtime during the upgrade. 

Access and Accounts

Yes. Existing product URLs will redirect automatically to the new platform. No immediate action is required on your end for a smooth transition. However, we do recommend updating product links to the new platform URL eventually, on a timeline that is convenient for you.

Will students and teachers log in the same way?

Every current authentication method carries over, such as IP, referring URL, SSO, and username and password. The new platform supports SSO authentication.

Will saved work and user accounts carry over?

Yes. Individual user accounts move to the new platform, along with saved items.

Does the platform work with our learning management system?

The new platform supports LTI 1.3.

Administration

Will usage statistics continue after the upgrade?

Yes, usage statistics will remain consistently available. All product usage reports will be available through the “Infobase Platform” placard in your admin portal. The new usage report will reflect the usage of products after they are upgraded.

To ensure you have access to historical data, legacy usage reports will remain in your admin portal for another year.

Will MARC records change?

MARC records with updated platform URLs will be available, but existing MARC records will be supported via redirects following your upgrade. 

Where do I manage settings for my school?

Administrators manage settings through the Infobase admin portal.

Using the Platform

How does search work on the new platform?

Students search within the subscription they are using. With one click they can switch to another upgraded subscription to see results for the same search.

Search results are displayed based on authority, relevance, and alignment to natural language search. Students and end users can expect to see improved search results on the new platform relative to search results in the past. 

In addition to in-product search results, the new platform also features federated search. Results from your library’s other resources can appear in a separate panel on the right side of the screen. Opening one of those results takes the student to that resource’s own site.

What are Mind Map and Topic Assistant?

Mind Map shows how a topic connects to related subtopics, so students can explore a subject before they narrow their research. 

Topic Assistant will be available in Credo. Topic Assistant helps students develop a research topic that is complex, feasible, focused, and fascinating, following the same goals as a reference interview.

Will every product look the same?

Layout and tools stay consistent across subscriptions where consistency helps students move between products. Each product’s experience also reflects its own users and use cases, so Bloom’s Literature and Classroom Video On Demand each have an interface suited to how students use them.

Is the new platform accessible?

The platform aligns with WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility standards, so students who use assistive technology can work with every upgraded subscription.

Products not Upgrading in December

Some of my products are not on the December list. What happens to them?

It depends on the product. Learn360, The Mailbox Plus, InfoLaunch, and InfoLaunch Elementary are scheduled to move to the new platform by summer 2027. Other products stay on their current platform, and your access to them continues as it is now.

Which products will be on the new platform by summer 2027?

By summer 2027, every Infobase streaming video collection, subject research database, and K-12 classroom resource will be on the new platform. The table below lists each product and its status.

Training and Support

Will there be training on the new platform?

Yes. Infobase is hosting K-12 webinars in mid-November that cover the December changes and platform basics.

Who do I contact with questions?

For technical questions, visit Infobase Support or email [email protected]. For questions about your subscriptions, contact your Infobase representative or email [email protected].

Product Status Table

Product
Platform
Scheduled Upgrade
Access Video On Demand
On the new platform
Available now
Films On Demand
On the new platform
Available now
Credo Reference
On the new platform
Available now
World News Digest Archive
On the new platform
Available now
Immersive eBooks
On the new platform
Available now
Bloom’s Literature
Upgrading
Late December
Classroom Video On Demand
Upgrading
Late December
Credo Source
Upgrading
Late December
eBooks
Upgrading
Late December
Feature Films for Education
Upgrading
Late December
Health Reference Center
Upgrading
Late December
History Center*
Upgrading
Late December
Issues & Controversies
Upgrading
Late December
Just for Kids
Upgrading
Late December
Science Center (Science Online and Today’s Science)
Upgrading
Late December
World News Digest
Upgrading
Late December
InfoLaunch
Scheduled
Summer 2027
InfoLaunch Elementary
Scheduled
Summer 2027
Learn360
Scheduled
Summer 2027
The Mailbox Plus
Scheduled
Summer 2027
Ferguson’s Career Guidance Center
To be scheduled
World Geography and Culture Online
To be scheduled
Credo Information Literacy
Staying on current platform
N/A
Polling the Nations
Staying on current platform
N/A
Writer’s Reference Center
Staying on current platform
N/A

*History Center includes: African American History, American History, American Indian History, Ancient and Medieval History, Issues & Controversies in History, Modern History, and World Religions.