If you’re a veteran library user, you may have noticed a few changes to the University Libraries site this fall, thanks to the fabulous web developers in the Office of University Relations. Here in the APU Libraries, our mission is to help you find the resources you need to be successful in your research. We think our re-designed web site is a huge step forward in that mission.
With the re-design, we’ve streamlined the look and feel of the site, made it easier to get important information, offered you more ways to connect with the University Libraries, and introduced several new research tools. Our overall goal was to make it faster and easier for you to get the books, articles, media, and library information you need.
Screen shot of the newly redesigned University Libraries web site
Here’s a quick tour of some of the features of our new site:
Fun and useful information
- Current hours are posted daily for all three libraries.
- Instant access to your library account is provided right on the home page, so you can renew items electronically.
- Newly-added library items are featured each day (you can also subscribe to the new items feed).
More ways to get help
- Get instant, 24/7 research help from librarians via live chat through the “Ask a Librarian” widget. APU librarians monitor this service on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons; at other times you will be sent into a nation-wide research help center, where you can chat with a non-APU librarian.
- Learn about the best resources for your assignment by checking out our new LibGuides system. These guides are tailor-made by APU librarians with resources and research tips specifically for your class or major.
- We also have LibGuides devoted to helping you start your research project and cite your sources in MLA or APA style. There are shortcuts to the guides right on the home page.
New ways to connect with the Libraries
- Become a fan of the APU Libraries on Facebook and learn about new resources and happenings at the Libraries. We even have our own APU Library Search app in Facebook!
- We’re also on Twitter, if you’d prefer updates that way.
And, best of all, faster access to the books and articles you need!
- If you need books that are located in different campus libraries, or if you just don’t want to take the time to fin your books on the shelf, you’ll love our new requests system. When you find a book or video you want to borrow in our catalog, just hit the “Request” button and let us know where you’d like to pick up the items (make sure they’re listed as “Available” in the catalog before you request it). You can even add multiple items to your book cart and request them all at once to save even more time. In about 24 hours, you’ll get an email notifying you that your items are ready to pick up. Regional Center and online students can use the requests system, too–just choose “By Mail” as the pickup location, and we’ll mail the items free of charge, with return postage included!
- You can now search many of our research tools right from the home page, including our library catalog, LINK+, the Periodical Finder (a list of every journal, magazine, and newspaper in the Libraries’ collection), and two new tools called Quick Search and Multi-Database Search.
- Using the Quick Search box on our home page, you can find books and videos from our library catalog, plus articles from 5 of our article databases, all with just one search. For example, look at the Quick Search results for a search on the Dead Sea Scrolls–you’ve got books and videos on the first page, plus you can click the “Articles” link to see articles on the Dead Sea Scrolls from 30 of our online databases.
- Finally, Multi-Database Search allows you to search multiple article databases simultaneously. You can use the Multi-Database Search by typing your search terms into the box on our home page and choosing “Multiple Databases” from the drop-down menu, or you can click on “More Search Options >> Multi-Database Search” to go there directly.
We hope you’re enjoying the new site, and that it helps you get access to the research you need. Remember, if you need help with your research, or with using any of these tools, we’re available. Oh, and we’re always looking for ideas and suggestions, so let us know if there’s anything you’d like to see on the site!
