SUBJECT LIBRARY WEB PAGES: UNIQUENESS AND CONTINUITY ACROSS THE LIBRARY'S WEBSITE

Large university libraries are often divided up into separate subject libraries with web pages that address the unique needs of their user groups. Ideally, subject libraries need the flexibility to develop their sites to best suit their users, while maintaining sufficient similarity across all library web pages so that users, especially newer users, can readily find information throughout the library’s website.

Recently, the Penn State University Libraries addressed this issue of subject library flexibility and overall university library branding by developing a new subject library template. The Library but together a Subject Template Hot Team to develop recommendations and requirements for the template. The final template design maintained the university look and navigation features, while giving the subject libraries their own identity and the flexibility they need through modules and widgets that allow for unique content such as news feeds, audio/visual content, and new book feeds.

The Penn State Earth and Mineral Sciences Library has been a part of the template development process and the library’s website is used to demonstrate some of the features of the new subject library template.