When you add a hyperlink, you must change the link target (i.e. where it opens), so that it opens in the same window as your guide. Here's how:
Fun Fact: LibGuides link checker tool doesn't check links created using the Rich Text / HTML Content Type. It only checks links created with the Link Content Type, so don't rely on the Link Checker tool to catch all your broken links. (Content types are what you choose from the dropdown menu before adding to or editing a box.)
Reference: WCAG 2.2, SC 3.2.5 (Level AAA): Change on Request and WCAG 2.2, SC 2.4.4 (Level A): Link Purpose in Context
Link text must correctly describe the purpose of the link in a few words and tell a user about where the link will take them.
References: WCAG 2.2, SC 2.4.6 (Level AA): Headings and Labels and WCAG 2.2, SC 2.4.4 (Level A): Link Purpose in Context
Don't link your guide pages (i.e. menu items or tabs) so that they redirect to another LibGuide or website, even if it opens in the same window.
Example: You have a page on your guide called Citation Support. Instead of opening the Citation Support guide when users click on it, it should open a page on your guide with a link to the Citation Support guide on it.
Reference: WCAG 2.2, SC 3.2.5 (Level AAA): Change on Request
Do not change the default way links are styled to appear on your guide.
Users rely on consistency of style from guide to guide, so changing the style or appearance of the links, regardless of whether or not you think it's an improvement, means users need to spend extra energy noticing something new. All of this adds up from guide to guide. It's like litter, and it collectively increases the cognitive load for the user.
This is also especially important because the CSS for our hyperlinks needs to be updated to adhere to WCAG success criteria. Our links are only styled so the link text appears in blue. This doesn't serve users who don't perceive the color blue, so the master CSS needs to style all links to be underlined as well.
Reference: WCAG 2.2, SC 1.3.3 (Level A): Sensory Characteristics