New Design for the Internet Public Library

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Sue Davidsen
IPL Managing Director
304 West Hall
550 E. University
Ann Arbor, MI
48109-1092
(734) 936-8735

June 12, 2002

ANN ARBOR, MI., June 12, 2002 --The Internet Public Library (IPL) has unveiled a new design for its web site. Launched in 1995, the IPL 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. We invite visitors to see our new look at: http://www.ipl.org/

The new site was created in order to provide our 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 our 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 our "Ask a Question" service to get help with their research. Some individual resources have been renamed, making them more accessible to our visitors.

The new site design was an in-house creation of the Internet Public Library staff and students. We especially wish to recognize the efforts of our Head of Information Systems Michael McClennen, former IPL Director David Carter, and interface designers John Northup, Christopher Hamilton, Erica Olsen, and Kara Lock.

The Internet Public Library is an educational initiative of the University of Michigan School of Information. It is staffed by professional librarians with assistance from students and volunteer librarians from around the world.