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LibGuide Training

Adding Content

To add text to a box, start by selecting the Add/Reorder drop-down menu in a standard or tabbed box. Select Rich Text / HTML from the drop-down menu.

 

Screenshot of the dropdown menu of the Add/Reorder button. Text/HTML is listed as the first option.

 

 

The text box will appear and you can type text as you see fit.

 

Some things to remember:

  • Always keep accessibility in mind and use headings/subheadings as needed. For an overview of this, please see the accessibility section of this guide.
  • Text will not look the same in the text box and in the edit mode as it will when you preview it and once the guide is published.
    • Text often changes sizes from the edit mode to preview/publish.
    • Spacing between lines when you hit enter can also look off.
    • Bulleted lists don't always show up in the published guide as they do in the edited guide.
      • If you want to make a numbered list, type in the number yourself instead of using the numbered bullet points at the top of the editor.  

 

Tip: After making a change, go to Preview Mode to see what the changes will look like on the published page. 

1. To add a photo to a standard or tabbed box, you will first need to add rich text/HTML content if you do not already have one. Within the rich text editor box, you can select the image icon. 

 

Image of the text editor with different icons. Image icon is a drawing of a landscape.

 

 

2. Select the "Browse Server" button.

 

3. In the LibApps Image Manager Library, you can add images to your image library by selecting the green "Upload New Image" button and then choosing an image to upload.

 

If you want to reuse an image that you have already uploaded to the LibApps Image Manager Library, you can browse the images in your library (the second section of the LibApps Image Manager Library). Once you find the image, you can select the image icon located directly underneath the image you want to add.

 Image of the LibApps Image Manager Library showing a green Upload New Image button as well as the images below with a circle around the image icon

 

4. You will then want to set the image properties.
 

  • Alternative Text. Whenever you add a photo, unless it is decorative, make sure it has alt text. Alt text is used by screen readers to describe what the image is about for people who are not able to view it. Please see the Alt Text best practices in the Review Section for more information.
     
  • Width and Height. These boxes set the size of the image. You can set this two different ways, by pixels or percentage.

    If you know the image width or height in pixels, then you can enter these here. If you enter one, and the lock located beside the width/height area is closed (locked), then LibGuideswill automatically size the other by the correct proportions based on the pixels entered.

    I recommend entering the size as a percentage in the width box. This is more responsive and the image will change sizes based on the size of the screen. For example, if you enter 100% in width, the image will be 100% of the size of the box and the size will change depending on the type of screen the person is viewing the guide on. Pixels are fixed and will not behave this way, which may cause them to appear bigger on a phone than on the computer due to the size of the screen. If you decide to use percentages, make sure you enter the percentage symbol (%) after the number. 
     
  • Border. This creates a black border around an image. You can use it to make an image stand out from the text box. The larger the number, the thicker the border. I used 2 for the borders when adding image properties to the screenshot example below. 
     
  • Hspace and Vspace. This is horizontal space and vertical space. It creates white space between the image and whatever is on either side of it, kind of like a buffer. I generally leave these blank.
     
  • Alignment. Where the image is on the page. You can select left or right. If you leave it as <not set> it will stay where your cursor was when you selected the insert image icon. In the example below, I tabbed over and then selected the insert image icon, so my image is slightly indented. 

Image Properties popup showing Alt Text, width, height, border, hspace, vspace, and alignment

 

5. Once you decide on your properties, select "OK". If you want to edit your image, you'll need to go back into the Rich Text Editor and then right-click the image. You can select "Image Properties" from the drop-down menu

 

1. To add a link to a standard or tabbed box, select the "Add / Reorder" button in the box and select "Link" from the drop-down menu. 

 

2. Add your link information in the pop-up window. 

Image of popup window to add a new link into your libguide page. Several fields are displayed.

 

Link Name - How the link will display in the guide

 

Link URL - URL or permalink of the website. IF this is an article or other source from a database, make sure you use the permalink or the link will not work. See our guide on Permalinks for more information. 

 

Window Target - You can select to have the link open in a new window, or have the user go directly from the current page (your guide) to a new page. Best practices suggest using the Current Window option to avoid users getting lost with multiple windows, but the choice is yours. Just make sure you are being consistent with how links open throughout your guide. 

 

Use Proxy - Keep this on "No".

 

Description - This should explain what the webpage is about and why it is relevant for the guide. Keep it short and to the point.

 

Description Display - Where, or if, the description of the link will display on the guide. Avoid using the hover option as this is not accessible for screenreaders. 

 

More info - This can be anything from additional information to instructions on how to use the webpage. May be left blank. 

 

Position - Where in the box you want the link to show up. You can also rearrange the items within the box at any point. 

1. Find the content that you want to embed. In this case, we will use a YouTube video as an example.

 

2. Find the embed code. In YouTube, you can find this code by clicking the "share" button under the video and then the "Embed" symbol. 

 

Youtube video with Share button and embedded button highlighted 

3. Copy the embed code.

 

4. Select the Add/Reorder button in the box you want the video/media to be located.

 

5. Choose "Media / Widget" from the drop-down menu.

 

6. Give the video/media/widget a name, paste the embed code, and select "save".

A Note About Books

 

Keep your audience in mind when adding books to your guide. Many students find it confusing if the guide is aimed at distance students, but the book is only available in person. Unless your audience will be able to physically come in to the library to view the materials listed, or unless the item is critical to the page, try to limit books and other sources to those that all students will be able to access (like eBooks). 

 

Adding Books from the Catalog

 

1. Select the Add/Reorder button in the box you want the book to be located.

 

2. Choose "Book from the catalog" from the drop-down menu.

 

Note: "The Catalog" does not necessarily mean VSU's Gil-Find Catalog. You are able to add a book from anywhere and provide a link to a website where readers can either read, check out, or purchase the book. 

 

3. Begin by checking to see if the book is already in the LibGuide system. To do this, select the second tab, "Reuse Existing Book" in the new window and search for the book you wish to use. If it is there, select it from the list. Do not create a copy of the item when asked unless you want to change the link to the book. Select save. The book will be added to the box. If you want to edit the description, select the edit icon beside the book information once it is in the guide and type in a new description. 

 

Pop up window for adding a book to the catalog. The second tab is selected and The Princess Bride is being searched.

 

4. If the book is not already in the LibGuide system, select the first tab, "Create New Book". 

 

It is helpful if you know the book's ISBN. (The library catalog will have this listed, but if it is not in the catalog, you can do a search for the book on Google. Amazon will usually list an ISBN as well.)

 

New Book from the Catalog pop up window with fields for the book information.

 

5.  Enter the ISBN and select "Get Book Info". This should automatically pull in most of the information needed. If the system reads that it can't find the book, you can try a different ISBN. Books will often have several ISBN numbers for different versions, editions, and covers. You can change any of the information that you would like that it brings in, or add in what is missing.  

 

URL - Where the viewer will go if they click on the book title or cover. If using a book from the VSU catalog, or from the database, make sure you use the permalink of the item to ensure it goes back to the original location.

 

Call Number - This can be left blank unless the item is a physical book at Odum Library and you want patrons to be able to easily locate it. You can find the Call Number for books at Odum Library by searching for the book in Gil-Find.

 

Description Display - Where the description of the item will be shown if applicable. Do not select the "hover" option as this is not accessible to screen readers. 

 

Cover Art - Usually this will be pulled in with the ISBN number. You are able to upload your own if you wish. The size of the cover art can be changed at any time with the size drop-down area (unless you reused a book from the LibGuide Catalog). ALT Text can be left as "Cover Art" unless you use a different image.