Kent State students no longer need to wrestle with multiple sites or browser tabs to look up books, check due dates or request materials from any academic library. The launch of a new mobile app connected to the statewide OhioLINK library system brings Kent State University’s library services directly to students’ phones.

The OhioLINK Libraries mobile app, now tailored for Kent State users, is a product of a statewide upgrade to a new shared library services platform. The change comes as more than 100 OhioLINK member libraries moved to a single unified system that replaces KentLINK and other older search engines with more modern functionality.

According to state library network press materials, features include the ability to “search library collections, access e‑resources, chat with librarians, book study rooms, check account details, and more, when and where it’s convenient.”

“Our librarians are excited about being able to connect with students and faculty through a mobile device. It’s a major step forward in making library services, resources, and expertise more accessible,” said Yolanda Cooper, chair of OhioLINK’s Library Advisory Council.

But for Kent State students, the app is more than an off‑the‑shelf product.

“When we bought this new library system, we did it with all the different academic libraries across the state of Ohio,” said Mike Collura, executive director of Technology & Resource Innovation for Kent State Libraries. “The vendor developed the app, but what’s unique about our particular instance is that we negotiated to have it branded as the OhioLINK Mobile Library app.”

When students log in with their Kent State Flashline ID, the app greets them with a customized layout.

“We designed the interface using Kent State’s blue and yellow to give it a distinct Kent State identity,” Collura said, making the app both familiar and intuitive for students.

At its core, the app is meant to simplify access to library resources. “Our goal was to get one‑click access to the library,” Collura said, noting that while Kent State already has a broader campus app, the library wanted a space students could use without navigating multiple menus.

The app also provides real-time notifications for students, letting them know when a book is due or overdue, when a hold is ready for pickup and even about library news and updates. Collura emphasized the importance of this feature.

“Email isn’t always the first thing that students want to use, but they always have their phones,” he said. “So the notifications were an especially important feature.” 

Looking ahead, the app will expand with new functionality tied to system upgrades. Upcoming features may surface library materials linked directly to Canvas courses if instructors use a library course reading tool, and a future button will let students text the library instantly for help. Collura said the app, along with these updates, helps to “make the library quickly accessible in the palm of your hand anywhere.”

The article was originally published in The Kent Stater, written by Alexis Hood.