diff --git a/web/app/plugins/mitlib-multisearch-widget/templates/tab-all-use-v2.php b/web/app/plugins/mitlib-multisearch-widget/templates/tab-all-use-v2.php
index f6bf2c2e..73d21879 100644
--- a/web/app/plugins/mitlib-multisearch-widget/templates/tab-all-use-v2.php
+++ b/web/app/plugins/mitlib-multisearch-widget/templates/tab-all-use-v2.php
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <?php
 /**
  * The "Unified Search" of the search tab for all content - which will search "Search MIT Libraries" (USE).
+ * This version is designed to trim away surrounding markup so it can be embedded on the new homepage hero. 
  *
  * @package Multisearch Widget
  * @since 1.5.0
@@ -9,11 +10,11 @@
 ?>
 <!-- nls state: _<?php echo esc_attr( $nls_enabled ); ?>_ -->
 <form id="search-form" action="https://search.libraries.mit.edu/results" method="get" role="search">
-	<label for="basic-search-main">What can we help you find?</label>
+	<label for="basic-search-main">Search for books, articles, library services, and more</label>
 	<div class="form-wrapper">
 		<div class="search-input-wrapper">
 			<i class="fa-regular fa-magnifying-glass"></i>
-			<input id="basic-search-main" type="search" class="field field-text basic-search-input" name="q" title="Keyword anywhere" value="" required="">
+			<input id="basic-search-main" placeholder="Try a citation, topic, database, etc." type="search" class="field field-text basic-search-input" name="q" title="Keyword anywhere" value="" required="">
 			<button title="Clear search" aria-label="Clear search" type="button" id="clear-search" style="display: none;">Clear search</button>
 		</div>
 		<input id="tab-to-target" type="hidden" name="tab" value="all">
diff --git a/web/app/themes/mitlib-parent/css/v2/pages/home.css b/web/app/themes/mitlib-parent/css/v2/pages/home.css
index 99a61215..2b477b41 100644
--- a/web/app/themes/mitlib-parent/css/v2/pages/home.css
+++ b/web/app/themes/mitlib-parent/css/v2/pages/home.css
@@ -131,6 +131,12 @@ body.v2-page {
         width: 100%;
         padding-left: 46px;
         padding-right: 48px;
+        text-overflow: ellipsis;
+
+        &::placeholder {
+          font-weight: var(--font-weight-regular);
+          color: var(--color-text-disabled);
+        }
       }
 
       #clear-search {
diff --git a/web/app/themes/mitlib-parent/style.css b/web/app/themes/mitlib-parent/style.css
index cc8c704d..66ba3621 100644
--- a/web/app/themes/mitlib-parent/style.css
+++ b/web/app/themes/mitlib-parent/style.css
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /*
 Theme Name: MITlib Parent
 Author: MIT Libraries
-Version: 0.11
+Version: 0.12
 Description: The parent theme for the MIT Libraries' Pentagram-designed identity.
 
 */
diff --git a/web/app/themes/mitlib-parent/templates/page-home-v2.php b/web/app/themes/mitlib-parent/templates/page-home-v2.php
index cca62f5e..f766412c 100644
--- a/web/app/themes/mitlib-parent/templates/page-home-v2.php
+++ b/web/app/themes/mitlib-parent/templates/page-home-v2.php
@@ -87,15 +87,15 @@
 				<div>
 					<i class="fa-light fa-file-alt" aria-hidden="true" role="img"></i>
 					<div class="option-box-content">
-						<h3><a href="/get-materials">Get materials</a></h3>
-						<p>Learn how to find, request and get the materials you need</p>
+						<h3><a href="/get-materials">Learn how to get materials</a></h3>
+						<p>Find, request and get articles, books, and more</p>
 					</div>
 				</div>
 				<div>
 					<i class="fa-light fa-book" aria-hidden="true" role="img"></i>
 					<div class="option-box-content">
-						<h3><a href="/experts">Discover subject guides &amp; librarians</a></h3>
-						<p>Resources and expertise for every research interest</p>
+						<h3><a href="/experts">Discover guides &amp; librarians</a></h3>
+						<p>Resource and class guides with experts for every subject</p>
 					</div>
 				</div>
 				<div>
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@
 					<i class="fa-light fa-messages-question" aria-hidden="true" role="img"></i>
 					<div class="option-box-content">
 						<h3>Ask Us</h3>
-						<p>Get help via email, chat and consultations</p>
+						<p>Get help via email, live chat with staff, and appointments</p>
 						<div class="ask-us-links">
 							<div id="libchat_fa6edc50fe81603743870ca1772bc5b2e7e121436b62ba7da331b9dcabf289c0"></div>
 							<a href="/ask">All help options</a>						
@@ -148,15 +148,15 @@
 						</div>
 					</article>
 					<article class="featured-item side-by-side">
-						<span class="item-type spotlight">Spotlight</span>
-						<img src="https://libraries.mit.edu/app/uploads/2026/07/YpeVtugQ.png" alt="A black book cover featuring light blue type reads “National Bestseller, Ted Chiang, Exhalation, Stories, By the author of Stories of Your Life and Others.”"/>
+						<span class="item-type news">News</span>
+						<img src="https://libraries.mit.edu/app/uploads/sites/4/2026/06/Rotch_Ext-Night-Hzntl-624x483.jpg" alt="The exterior of Rotch Library at dusk bathed in purple light. Book stacks are visible on multiple floors through the windows."/>
 						<div class="featured-item-content">
 							<hgroup>
-								<h3><a href="https://libraries.mit.edu/mit-reads/">MIT Reads: <em>Exhalation</em></a></h3>
-								<p>Ted Chiang's science fiction story collection selected by President Sally Kornbluth</p>
+								<h3><a href="https://libraries.mit.edu/news/future-of-rotch-library-begins-to-take-shape/44423/">Future of Rotch Library begins to take shape</a></h3>
+								<p>Reimagining spaces for teaching, studying, and data services</p>
 							</hgroup>
 						</div>
-					</article>
+					</article>						
 					<article class="featured-item">
 						<span class="item-type service">Service</span>
 						<div class="featured-item-content">
@@ -167,14 +167,14 @@
 						</div>
 					</article>
 					<article class="featured-item">
-						<span class="item-type news">News</span>
+						<span class="item-type service">Service</span>
 						<div class="featured-item-content">
 							<hgroup>
-								<h3><a href="https://libraries.mit.edu/news/future-of-rotch-library-begins-to-take-shape/44423/">Future of Rotch Library begins to take shape</a></h3>
-								<p>Reimagining spaces for teaching, studying, and data services</p>
+								<h3><a href="https://libraries.mit.edu/scholarly/">Learn about your options and rights in scholarly publishing</a></h3>
+								<p>Including open access, copyright, and research funder requirements</p>
 							</hgroup>
 						</div>
-					</article>																		
+					</article>																	
 					<article class="featured-item">
 						<span class="item-type resource">Resource</span>
 						<div class="featured-item-content">
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@
 				<div class="events-header">
 					<div class="events-header-title-paragraph">
 					<h2>Events &amp; Workshops</h2>
-					<p>We regularly run classes, workshops, and speaker events</p>
+					<p>Featured classes, workshops, and speakers events.</p>
 					</div>
 					<a class="button secondary" href="https://libraries.mit.edu/news/events/">See all events</a>
 				</div>