Drum roll, please! The headliner announcement you've all been waiting for... the next generation of the LibGuides A-Z List is right around the corner! In a few weeks, we're releasing a more powerful and flexible resource management tool fully stocked with frequently requested features.
We've upgraded to the latest and greatest Bootstrap UI framework to bring you an updated setup interface and a fully refreshed public A-Z databases page. With the new A-Z interface, you'll get a taste of where the rest of LibGuides is going next.
We've given you the option to insert an intermediate page between the A-Z list and the database itself. These landing pages are created (and maintained!) automatically – if any metadata for a given database changes, its landing page will automatically update. You can further customize these landing pages, of course!
With landing pages, you can:
Bonus: It's great for SEO! Your databases will be more easily findable/indexed with search engines.
We've made it easier to customize the look and feel.
Follow our intuitive forms and prompts to style your A-Z lists and individual landing pages without having to delve into CSS, JavaScript, and templates. Power users can still add custom code, but most users will not need to.
You'll notice a new System Settings – Look & Feel page. As LibGuides begins a gradual introduction of Bootstrap 5 architecture, this is the new spot for adding a header, footer, styling, and custom code. Currently, these customizations will only apply to the new A-Z List public page. Important: Any old Look & Feel settings won't apply to new Bootstrap 5 pages, starting with your new A-Z.
No more typing raw HTML to get your database descriptions to look how you want! The Description, More Info, and Library Review fields now support rich text editing capabilities.
Up Next: Our LibGuides team is hard at work on a new Card-Style Layout. This optional layout will offer a clean and efficient look – perfect for mobile.
Excited? Curious? But feeling overwhelmed by options and a bit apprehensive about unleashing a new interface on your patrons? We get it!
You'll have plenty of time to explore the new settings and experiment behind the scenes.
Preview your new A-Z page at any time to make sure everything looks exactly how you want.
While the new A-Z features will be separate from your old A-Z list, content for both lists is always in sync.
Edit a database description or update a subject category, and these changes will be reflected on both lists.
While the new A-Z module is in Beta, you can toggle between both lists.
When you're ready to go live with your new A-Z List, make the switch to officially turn it on for your patrons.
LibGuides CMS subscribers will soon be able to set up multiple A-Z Lists.
Get inspired! Create A-Z lists for...
Keep an eye on our blog and the Springshare Lounge so you don't miss the debut of multiple A-Z Lists.
Have specialized info to add to your databases? You'll have the option to create custom text, link, or number fields for your resources.
Databases are some of your library's most valuable (and expensive!) assets. CMS users will gain access to additional analytics capabilities for in-depth insight into which resources are most used and from where. Stay tuned for updates!