Footer external links should open in a new tab

Problem

All external links in the footer open in the same tab instead of a new tab.

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/67843849-e04c-4cdb-ab85-7be337966488

Affected file: openlibrary/templates/lib/nav_foot.html

Affected links:

• Bluesky, X (Twitter), GitHub social icons
• Careers (archive.org)
• Blog (blog.openlibrary.org)
• Terms of Service (archive.org)
• Donate (archive.org)
• Writing Bots (docs.openlibrary.org)
• Release Notes (github.com)

Reproducing the bug

1. Go to https://openlibrary.org
2. Scroll down to the footer
3. Click any external link (e.g. Bluesky, GitHub, Blog, Careers)

• Expected behavior: External links should open in a new tab (target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer")
• Actual behavior: External links open in the same tab, navigating the user away from Open Library

Context

• Browser : Chrome
• OS : Mac
• Logged in (Y/N): Y
• Environment : prod

Breakdown

All external links in the footer open in the same tab instead of a new tab.

https://openlibrary.org (scroll to footer)

Affected file: openlibrary/templates/lib/nav_foot.html

Affected links:

• Bluesky, X (Twitter), GitHub social icons
• Careers (archive.org)
• Blog (blog.openlibrary.org)
• Terms of Service (archive.org)
• Donate (archive.org)
• Writing Bots (docs.openlibrary.org)
• Release Notes (github.com)

1. Go to https://openlibrary.org
2. Scroll down to the footer
3. Click any external link (e.g. Bluesky, GitHub, Blog, Careers)

• Expected behavior: External links should open in a new tab (target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer")
• Actual behavior: External links open in the same tab, navigating the user away from Open Library

Overview

Add target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" to all external anchor tags in the footer template.

Requirements Checklist

• Add target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" to all external links in nav_foot.html

Related files

• openlibrary/templates/lib/nav_foot.html

Stakeholders