Waukegan Public Library patrons can now more easily check out a book, movie or music, reserve a study room, or access e-books or movies online by using the library’s updated website.
Amy Grossman, the library’s deputy director, said cardholders can go to the website, log into their account and reserve a book, movie or music if it is available. They can also select a movie and watch it on a device at home.
“You can place the book on hold, and then pick it up at the library,” she said. “Some things are a lot easier now. Before it was a challenge.”
The Waukegan Public Library launched its new website in October, replacing an obsolete software system and adding new features, making it easier for users to find resources and receive a recommendation of a book to read.
With the existing website, Isaac Salgado, the library’s IT manager, said the management system overseeing the software was no longer updating it. The site itself looked old and worn.
“A lot of components were not being updated frequently,” he said.
Realizing there were numerous issues with the website, Grossman said that needed information was getting buried deeper and deeper inside the aging system. The library needed to seek proposals from companies to build the new website. The cost of the project was $30,000.
“It was no longer accessible for a lot of people,” she said. “Updating it was getting impossible. We couldn’t fix stuff, and there were no more updates.”
Looking at the top of the new home page, headings allow people to log into their account if they have a library card, or select a language other than English if the switch makes it easier to navigate. There are more than 200 languages available.
Beneath the language and my account tabs, website visitors can click on one of six tabs — borrow, services, events, learn, about and visit. Each leads to a collective total of 52 avenues of exploration, from checking out a book to directions to the main library or the Hinkston branch.
“The navigation bar and drop-downs make information easier to find and locate things on our website,” Grossman said. “It’s much more streamlined and easier to read.”
Salgado said there is also a screen reader for the visually impaired, enabling them to navigate the website in larger type.
While librarians are always willing to recommend books to library users, those suggestions are now available on the website. Near the bottom of the page under “new & upcoming titles” are images of five book covers.
Before reaching the images of the books, the website visitor can choose whether to browse recommendations for adult, teen, youth or picture books. After selecting the category, a user can look at 20 selections and click on one to find a summary from an appropriate librarian.
“This is a new feature we haven’t had before,” Grossman said. “You can access it 24/7. It’s a virtual display written by library staff. People can check it regularly. We change the books from time to time. You can reserve it and pick it up at the library.”
Under services, Grossman said visitors can learn how to reserve a study room, find out what is at the new Maker Space, the Early Learning Center where young children can don costumes and act out a scene, the sensory room for those who wish a quiet place or schedule a time in the telehealth booth.
“There are things people frequently ask about,” she said.
Salgado said there is access to the library’s database and collection of old copies of periodicals, which include copies of the News-Sun dating to 1997 as well as numerous journals and other items.
“It’s one-stop shopping of general information,” he said.
