The other day I was thinking about what I would consider to be the perfect library website. This is what I came up with: 

Features: 

• Large search box, which searches across all sources of materials for the patron.
• Search is the focus of the site.
• A Cover-Flow esque design that incorporates the newest or top titles being checked out.
• A clear "My Checkouts" link that takes the patron directly to all of their checkouts (along with their respective due dates)
• Small, unobtrusive chat on the bottom of the page.
• eResources gets a clear dedicated link near the Checkouts link to encourage users.

Notes:

Obviously this is just my take, and I know that there would be several other factors to actually get a design like this working properly (having an all-inclusive search would probably be next to impossible).

Also, I have not decided where I would put a news section on the website. Probably near the bottom left corner. Only extreme alerts (Library closings, Important news) would be placed above the search box. 

To see the full wire-frame in greater detail and to leave comments, check here.