FAQ content

(Beta) A-Z Database List: Preview and activate the new public A-Z Database page

In this article

What is the new A-Z Database module?

The new A-Z List Management pages and the updated public A-Z Database page offer mobile-first styling (built on Bootstrap 5.0), individual database landing pages, support for custom database flags and fields, and much more. The redesigned module gives you and your staff robust management of your databases; and gives your patrons a new, modern, user-friendly interface with which to learn about and access the databases available to them. 

Within your LibGuides site, you will automatically have access to the new admin interface for managing your databases (accessed via Content > A-Z List Management Beta) where you can begin to familiarize yourself with the new management features, preview the updated public page, and work on crafting and updated look and feel. The new admin interface is synced with the existing A-Z Database List page which means that any updates you make to your databases, on the new or old interface, will be reflected in both locations as well as on the public A-Z page.

Example of the new A-Z Database list public landing page
Example of the new A-Z Database List public page

New features

  • Dedicated database landing pages to display all of the information for a database in one place which makes it easy to share a database with your patrons with the added context that you can add to the landing page.
  • Code-free customizations to make adjustments to your public A-Z page's look and feel easier than ever.
    • With the entire interface (admin and public-side) built on the modern Bootstrap 5.0 framework. 
  • Customizable Helpful Links to connect the A-Z page to content from your guides, LibAnswers, and LibWizard.
  • Add an optional Icon Legend to your public A-Z page to offer additional context to the icons that are assigned to your databases.
  • Customize the display order for librarian-curated "Best Bets" when viewing the A-Z list for a specific subject category.
  • Custom flags, in addition to the standard "New", "Trial", and "Popular" can be assigned to any database as needed.
  • Create custom fields to add specialized information to your databases (LibGuides CMS only).
  • Set up and define access modes so that your patrons can quickly know what they can access within your databases and from where.
  • Alert features for the A-Z page and for individual databases that allow you to inform patrons of any temporary access issues.
  • Expanded field support with full rich text editing capabilities.
Example of an individual database landing page
Example of an individual database landing page
Managing a subject's assigned databases
Managing a subject's assigned databases from the new A-Z List Management

Opt-in and activate when you're ready

The legacy (aka old) version of the A-Z Database List will be available in your LibGuides system through June 2024, which means that you can work at your own pace as you explore the new features and experiment behind the scenes. During this time, you can activate the new interface at any point, and if you need to revert back to the old interface for any reason, you can deactivate the new interface until you are ready to go live again. Additionally, any changes that you make, in either A-Z interface, are synced between the two (though the new AZ features are only visible and available in the new UI) meaning that your AZ list will always be up to date and accurate with no need to make your updates multiple times.

Preview the new A-Z public page

Excited to take a look? You can preview the new public A-Z Databases page without activating it at any time. And because the preview of the new A-Z page is fully functional, you can share the preview link with staff, your patrons, or whoever you like.

From the new AZ List Management (Beta) pages

From the Database List
  1. From the Content dropdown, select AZ List Management (Beta).
The AZ List Management Beta option in the Content menu
  1. On the Database List page, click the Preview New AZ List button.
    • The new public page will open in a new window for you to explore!
The Preview New AZ List button
From the Public AZ Page settings
  1. From the Content dropdown, select AZ List Management (Beta).
The AZ List Management Beta option in the Content menu
  1. In the sidebar under A-Z Databases, click on Settings to expand the menu.
  2. Select Public AZ Page.
  3. Click the Preview New AZ List (Beta) link in the Activating/Deactivating new A-Z Public pages panel.
The sidebar menu showing Settings and the Public AZ Page settings.

From the legacy A-Z Database List page

  1. From the Content dropdown, select A-Z Database List.
The A-Z Database List option in the Content menu
  1. On the Databases tab, click the Preview new AZ List (Beta) link.
    • The new public page will open in a new window for you to explore!
The Preview New AZ List link

Set up and explore the new A-Z list

For the full details of creating, editing, and managing databases in the updated A-Z Database List, please visit our Springboard on the topic. And to help you get started with the features that are only available in the new version, you can visit the FAQs below:

Activate the new A-Z public page

When you're ready to make the switch to the public page, you can activate it with the click of a button! 

  1. From the Content dropdown, select AZ List Management (Beta).
The AZ List Management Beta option in the Content menu
  1. In the sidebar under A-Z Databases, click on Settings to expand the menu.
  2. Select Public AZ Page.
  3. In the Activating/Deactivating new A-Z Public pages box at the top of the page, click the Activate New A-Z Public Page toggle. 
    • The activation will be saved automatically, and you will be live with the new public interface!
    • A reminder that if you need to switch back to the old public page at any time, simply return to this page and turn off the Activate New A-Z Public Page toggle.
The Activate New AZ List button

What happens when the new A-Z public page is activated?

  • The A-Z page's direct URL will be updated to use your LibGuides site's domain plus /az/databases, for example: https://yourlibrary.libguides.com/az/databases.
    • Existing links and traffic to the old public databases page (your LibGuides site's domain plus /az.php) will be automatically redirected to the new page.
  • Instruct your staff to start using the new administrative pages (accessed from Content > A-Z List Management (Beta)) to manage your databases so that your staff and your patrons can utilize the new interface's features going forward.
    • Access to the legacy version of the administrative page (accessed from Content > A-Z Database List) will continue to be available to you through June 2024.
FAQ Actions