The Alkek 2020 Vision is coming into focus and there are some BIG THINGS happening at the library to start the new year off in a wonderful fashion. BIG THING #1 is the launch of our website. Following on the heels of the Texas State University redesigned home page launch, University Libraries has published its redesigned website to better serve all library patrons. The new site brings together resources for Texas State library patrons including students, faculty, and staff at both the Round Rock and San Marcos campuses, as well as distance learning students and other remote library users. Library.txstate.edu is now a University Libraries branded website, replacing the Albert B. Alkek Library site.
Patrons can easily navigate to location-specific information about the Alkek Library or any other University Libraries’ facility or partner library right from the home page. Hours of operation for each location are also front and center.
In addition to being more inclusive, the new design mobile friendly and offers some new features designed to make it easier for patrons to find what they need. New features include a DIY Research page which links to handy guides that help with research projects, a My Dashboard page that puts all of the information requiring logins or with individualized content in one handy location, and a news and events page that helps library users keep up with what’s happening at Texas State’s libraries.
The website design uses the same template as the new university home page and features large images and easy navigation buttons for a more modern look and feel and easy navigation. The dropdown menus have been replaced by a slide in menu found at the top left of each page along with the site search button.
Still front and center on the home page is the library search bar which helps patrons find all the library resources they need. There are also buttons which link directly to searches for catalog items, databases, periodicals and library guides, making it easy to do targeted searching.
With the consolidation of all library content onto the new site, the old Round Rock Campus website pages will redirect to content pages on the new site and the old University Libraries site has been retired.
Stay tuned to library social media channels and subscribe to this blog find out about next month’s BIG THING. We will be rolling out the BIG FIVE THINGS throughout the spring semester.
The Alkek Library will be undergoing six big changes in 2020 as we continue to seek to improve our services. NUMBER ONE - For the start of the spring semester we launched our new and improved website. What will be the next big thing?? Stay tuned.
Contributed by Debbie Pitts, Marketing and Promotions Coordinator for University Libraries.