Internet Public Library has a new design for its Web site

Internet Public Library has a new design for its Web site

ANN ARBOR—The University of Michigan’s Internet Public Library (IPL) has unveiled a new design for its Web site. Launched in 1995, the IPL (http://www.ipl.org/) is an all-digital public library that provides library resources and services to over 1.5 million Internet surfers from around the world each month.

The new site was created in order to provide site visitors with easier navigation, enhanced searching capabilities, and updated graphics.

New features being offered: searching tools that include a “Search This Site” function, navigational menus that include a top “You Are Here” menu and a sidebar menu, and a consistent layout and graphical design that extends over the whole site including the youth areas (KidSpace and TeenSpace).

IPL visitors can continue to engage in such activities as browsing online newspapers, magazines or books, finding authoritative Web sites on a particular subject, or using “Ask a Question” service to get help with their research. Some individual resources have been renamed, making them more accessible to visitors.

The new site design was an in-house creation of the Internet Public Library staff and students, including Michael McClennen, head of Information Systems; David Carter, former IPL director; and interface designers, John Northup, Christopher Hamilton, Erica Olsen, and Kara Lock.

The IPL is an educational initiative of the U-M School of Information and is staffed by professional librarians with assistance from students and volunteer librarians from around the world.