CHICAGO - Today, regular visitors to the American Library Association (ALA) Web site will discover a more user-centered site with a new look and feel. The upgrade is the result of a two-year, member-driven redesign process.

Here is what site users can expect:      

• A home page banner, with dropdown shortcuts to frequently requested areas of the site.
• A highlights section featuring images and timely information “above the fold.”
• A news section with a three-tab structure that guides intended audiences to information about the ALA, library related legislation and advocacy, and U.S. and world news affecting libraries. News is updated frequently, using RSS feeds.
• Eye-catching highlights in the right column area of many pages provide “see” and “see also” references to on and off site resources.
• A new information architecture that doesn’t require users to be familiar with internal ALA structure in order to browse successfully.

At the time of the redesign launch, ALA will implement a new Google search appliance and custom Search Engine Results Page (SERP). The SERP will include “key matches” that take known search terms and point searchers to appropriate pages. Approximately two weeks after the go-live date, search results will also integrate ranked results from Google.

As they navigate the new site, frequent visitors should understand that their old bookmarks may sometimes no longer work. Sherri Vanyek, director of ITTS recommends, “Please use the new and improved search function to find the information you are looking for. If you need further assistance,  Karen Muller, ALA librarian, and her staff will be standing by to assist you.” You can send e-mail to Karen at library@ala.org.

While this is an exciting transition, it is still only the beginning of the plans ALA has for the site. Louise Gruenberg, ALA’s new senior usability officer, said “The ALA Web site is so extensive that this is only the first phase in an ongoing process of redevelopment.”

Michael Stephens, chair of ALA’s Web Advisory Committee, said “We are very excited about this launch, recognizing that it is a first step in a site that will quickly evolve.  We are confident that the new senior usability officer will lead us in this endeavor to offer the best possible website to ALA’s members and the field of librarianship.”

Gruenberg said, “We will be targeting numerous site issues in the near future. We appreciate users’ patience as we make these major changes.”

Those issues will include bad links, the development of consistent layout standards for committee pages, navigation for browsing round tables, alt tags for images and page formatting.

Staff and member volunteers will receive coaching in applying the new ALA Web Style Guide standards.

“Accessibility and usability are our new watchwords, and although we have a long way to go, our progress should be more and more noticeable during the course of the year,” Gruenberg said. “Members are welcome to share their concerns with me as we engage in the process of creating a dynamic, engaging resource for librarians and library workers everywhere. E-mail me at lgruenberg@ala.org.”

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This past Sunday, The New York Times dedicated a full-page ad in its “Week in Review” section to something we can all appreciate: an award that recognizes the work of librarians.

The ad promotes the Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award, a new award that will grant up to 10 librarians in school, public and academic libraries $5,000 and recognition at an awards ceremony in December hosted by The New York Times.

The ad previously appeared in the paper’s national and regional arts sections. You can download the ad from the award’s web site at www.ilovelibraries.org/ilovemylibrarian. Click on “Publicity Tools.” Other tools to help promote the award are also available.

Nominations are made by library users themselves and are accepted online at www.ilovelibraries.org/ilovemylibrarian. Nominations for librarians in public libraries are open through October 1. Nominations for librarians in school, college, community college and university libraries run through October 15.

The award is administered by the American Library Association’s Public Information Office through the Campaign for America’s Libraries, with support from Carnegie Corporation of New York and The New York Times. - Submitted by Megan Humphrey, manager, Campaign for America’s Libraries

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CHICAGO - Singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb discusses her love of libraries on a new video. It is one in a series of videos of celebrities that reveal their love of libraries.

While earning her degree in comparative literature from Brown University, Loeb formed the duo Liz and Lisa with fellow student Elizabeth Mitchell. Loeb then made her mark in New York’s singer-songwriter scene with solo acoustic performances and a collection of songs known as “The Purple Tape.”

She achieved major success when her song “Stay (I Missed You)” reached No. 1 on the pop charts. The song was also featured in the film “Reality Bites” and a video directed by the film’s star, Ethan Hawke.

Her album “Tails” went Gold, as did her 1997 Grammy-nominated album “Firecracker.”
Her most recent project is “Camp Lisa,” a collection of children’s songs. Proceeds from the sales are going to The Camp Lisa Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises funds to help send underprivileged children to summer camp.

Recent work has also included the CDs “Cake and Pie,” “The Way It Really Is,” “The Very Best of Lisa Loeb” and “Hello Lisa,” the children’s CD and companion book “Catch the Moon,” two television series, “Dweezil & Lisa” on the Food Network and “#1 Single” on E! Entertainment Television, and voice character work on MTV’s “Spider-Man: The New Animated Series,” the Disney Channel’s “Shorty McShorts’ Shorts” and the video game “Grandia Xtreme.”

“The Purple Tape” was also reissued on CD, with interviews about the songwriting process and the music business. - Contributed by Steve Zalusky, manager of communications, ALA Public Information Office

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