SpringyNews: Out of Beta, Into Primetime

Our list of features will have your head spinning in the best way possible. LibGuides v2 brings your favorite features from LibGuides v1 and comes with all the things you didn't know you wanted.

 Summer, 2014 - Recently Added Features

This summer has been a busy one for Springshare. We've been coding around the clock adding a whole bunch of new features to LibGuides v2! 

A-Z Database Management Features

Adding features to the A-Z Database tool was a no-brainer. Check out all of the cool things we've added:

• Database Type - 'Articles,' 'E-books,' 'Encyclopedias & Dictionaries,' 'Primary Sources,' 'Statistics & Datasets,' etc. Create your own custom list of database types to logically organize your A-Z resources for fast & easy findability.
• Vendor/Provider Type - Build your own list of 'Vendors/Providers' and assign databases to vendors. Users will be able to filter by vendor on the public side.
• Enhanced A-Z Filtering - Users can control what they see with filtering options for subject, database type, and/or vendor/provider. Bonus: Create permanent URLs for filtered lists of databases to provide targeted search results.  Just filter, then copy the URL from your browser's address bar.
• Use Widgets To Share Databases Outside Of LibGuides - Yup, create a widget - they can be as specific as needed! What to share a list of history databases? BAM, create a subject-specific widget. Need to create a list of only video databases? BOOM, build a by-type widget too!

Integrated & Faceted Search

You've been asking for it since the inception of LibGuides: a robust search that includes facets for easy filtering. Well, LibGuides v2 delivers that...and more! Our Solr search includes facets for slicing results into subjects, tags, guide types, and content types. Facets use OR logic within facets and AND logic across facets. Go beyond the LibGuide and search on individual assets within such as links, books, databases, and more.

Search Examples:

• Search "Edgar Allan Poe" and filter results down to Literature subject category AND Books content type
  Retrieves a list of books assigned to the subject category of Literature that have "Edgar Allan Poe" in the title
• Search MLA and facet results to Widget content type
  Highlights a list of your helpful tutorials on citing in proper MLA format
• Search Gardening and limit results to General Purpose guide type
  Displays a list of 'How-to' guides on Gardening

For those subscribing to LibAnswers v2, you'll notice integration with LibAnswers content! Search terms can be queried within LibGuides v2 and LibAnswers v2. Search across guide content and FAQs. 

Templates Galore

Customize the layout of all public pages: what displays and where. 

• Guide-Pages Layout:

LibGuides Subscribers - Create one custom layout for each navigation style (side & tabbed)
LibGuides CMS Subscribers - Create an unlimited number of templates. The sky's the limit!

• Homepage Layout - Create customizable homepage templates to change homepage designs throughout the year.
• Search Page Layout - Customize the layout and display of the search results page. Add helpful tips, video tutorials, search boxes & more!
• Profile Page Layout - Mix up the layout of your profile pages by moving the profile box to the right and adding a LibCal Events widget to highlight your upcoming workshops!
• A-Z Layout - Add directions or 'Get Help' information to your A-Z page. Better yet, embed search widgets or even a video tutorial. 

Guide-Level Features

These new guide-level features will have you building guides on a whole new level. 

• Asset Descriptions at Your Fingertips - Choose how you want to display your asset descriptions! 
• LibAnswers Assets - LibAnswers widgets are their own asset type! It makes it easy for you to embed your saved LibAnswers widgets right into your LibGuides.
• LibSurveys Integration - Embed your LibSurveys content right into your guide. Non-CMS subscribers can upgrade to LibGuides CMS or purchase LibSurveys separately. 

Maintenance Features

These features are available in LibGuides v1 but were turbo-boosted in v2.

• Link Checker - Our built-in link checker auto-runs every Saturday and displays an actionable and filterable list of broken links.
• Search & Replace - Run a S&R list in guide titles or link descriptions. Our super-charged S&R lets you control what gets replaced in specific areas. Bonus - perform a search (no replace!) to see where something appears in your guides.

Widgets

We released our new and improved widgets over the summer. And the best part? Our widgets work over http:// and https:// environments so feel free to embed them on public webpages AND secure websites like Intranets, LMS's, Portals, etc...

E-Reserves Module: Integrate your Reserves inside LibGuides

E-Reserves integration inside of your LibGuides. Yes, you heard that correctly. Easily integrate relevant course materials right within the guide.

Features: