Preview the new website

On July 1^st, the Jean and Alexander Heard Library will launch its progressive new library website.  The pioneering redesign takes into account library user feedback while capturing advances in web design to create a robust user-centered experience. This project is the culmination of a huge collective effort, involving staff from across the Heard Library and Vanderbilt University systems.

Highlights:

•             Innovative All-Search feature combines all library resources into one set of search results: print and electronic resources along with contact information to a subject specialist in one of our campus libraries.

•             Responsive design that provides an optimal viewing experience across a wide array of devices, whether you’re using a laptop, tablet or mobile device.

•             Campus libraries are unified with a common look and common core content with consistent navigation to electronic resources as you move from library page to library page.

What has changed?

Our transformative design is leading the way for academic and library websites. We’ve redesigned pages for the main Heard site as well as campus library pages for Central, Divinity, Management, Law, Music, Peabody, Science & Engineering, and Special Collections. The homepage, headers, footers, and navigation have undergone significant revision. This visually and functionally unifies all Heard Library websites and better aligns the library’s web presence with the Vanderbilt web presence.

Has anything remained the same?

Acorn, DiscoverLibrary and additional search interfaces are not part of this redesign, so their functionality remains the same. However, these interfaces will adopt the newly redesigned headers and footers used throughout the site.

The spring 2013 issue of Vanderbilt Magazine highlights the donation by the Reverend James M. Lawson, Jr. of his papers to Vanderbilt University Library in an article entitled “Courage to Dissent.” Reverend Lawson’s papers reflect both hisinspiring contributions to the civil rights movement and his distinguished career as a prominent minister.  Highlights include his correspondence from 1960 forward with the Freedom Riders in Jackson, Mississippi, including his supportive telegrams to those in the city jail; documents from Lawson’s work in the Nashville Christian Leadership Council; and materials from the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike and the ensuing period of unrest after the assassination of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. The letters, photographs, reports and artifacts will strengthen the Library’s collection of documents about the civil rights movement, adding new depth to these important materials.   

The Library teamed up with student organizations bringing dogs to Library Lawn to help ease end of the semester stress.  See the full article in MyVU here!

Changes Coming in July, 2013 to www.library.vanderbilt.edu

What will change?

We’re re-designing pages for the main Heard site and for campus library pages for Central, Divinity, Management, Law, Music, Peabody, Science & Engineering, and Special Collections. The homepage, headers, footers, and navigation will undergo significant revision.

Examples:

• Campus libraries will be unified with a common look and common core content.
• Navigation to electronic resources will be unified as you navigate from library page to library page.
• Provide more opportunities to identify and connect to subject specialists in the library.

Design for new Library Homepage

Design for Campus Library Homepage

Will anything remain the same?

Acorn, DiscoverLibrary, other search interfaces are not part of this redesign, so their functionality will remain the same. These interfaces will, however, adopt the newly redesigned headers and footers used throughout the site.

When will the change take place?
We are targeting July 1, 2013 to launch the redesigned site.

What if I have questions?
We welcome your inquiries. Please contact Tracy Primich, Suellen Stringer-Hye, or a library liaison with any questions.

The Vanderbilt University Speakers’ Committee announces the final event in their 2013 IMPACT Symposium. Israeli Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak will speak at Langford Auditorium on Sunday, April 7, at 7:00 p.m. This is the first public appearance of Prime Minister Ehud Barak since he ended his term as Israeli Minister of Defense. Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, David Maraniss, will moderate the discussion.

Tickets are free and available at the Sarratt Box Office. Arrive early for security checks.

For more information go to: http://on.fb.me/13Pqnxq . For updates about future speakers, like VUSC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/VPBSpeakersCommittee.

Five Vanderbilt libraries (Central, Divinity, Law, Management, and Science & Engineering) now accept patron ink and toner cartridges for recycling. This service is supported by the Library Green Team, SustainVu and Guy Brown Business Solutions. Guy Brown will donate portions of the proceeds from recycling these items to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, the Susan Gray School, and the Work/Life Connections Faculty and Staff Hardship Fund. Recycling containers are available in the public services areas of the participating libraries.

The Reverend James M. Lawson, Jr. who has played key roles in the Civil Rights Movement and Vanderbilt University’s history, has donated a significant portion of his papers to Vanderbilt Libraries’ Special Collections. The announcement was posted in the University’s MyVU on February 19 and picked up by The Nashville Post. The story ran on numerous Internet news sites in Tennessee and outside the state and was featured on Nashville Public Radio.

It’s hard to believe that the Food for Thought Café opened in May 2011 in Central Library. As we approach the café’s second anniversary, now is a good time to gather thoughts on how well the Café is meeting your needs. We will be meeting with the café managers in the coming days and would welcome your input. If you have comments or suggestions, please send them to Pat Johnson at patricia.a.johnson@vanderbilt.edu by Monday, February 25.