From The Desk Of The Chief Librarian

This summer the library worked with a designer to update our web site at www.ccny.cuny.edu/library/, not just to refresh the look, but also to make it more user friendly.

We had several goals for this revision:

• Use a visually pleasing design that is uniquely CCNY

• Get rid of the frames.

• Simplify the home page, reducing the use of unclear terminology and number of categories.

• Put access to the most-frequently-asked-for resources right up front.

While frames in a web site are very useful tools, the manner in which they partition a site makes use difficult for persons with disabilities, particularly those who use screen-reading software, so we eliminated them. The new design also incorporates a “text only” version, which allows users without equipment  supporting a graphical interface to use the resources on our site.

Our earlier web site had no less than ten categories on the home page, and it was often difficult to determine if the needed resource would be found under “selected internet sites” or “full text databases” or some other category.  The new site organizes the resources both alphabetically and by subject, and incorporates a section of reference resources by type and quick search links to other web sites.

The new “Shortcuts” feature on every page allows the user immediate access to the most requested databases from anywhere in the site. The resources under “Shortcuts” are grouped into three categories: Catalogs, Full Text, and Indexes. The full-text sources provide the entire article on the screen for reading or downloading.   Other full-text databases can be found under the Reference and Research section of the site.

We also wanted to make the local public library catalogs easier to find and use, particularly because anyone with a New York Public Library card can access a large number of electronic resources from home.  Until CUNY is able to handle access from home for students, the NYPL site is a good substitute.

Perhaps you’ve also noticed the “Amazon.com” link on each page.  We display the logo because the CCNY Library participates in the Amazon.com Associates Program. As an Amazon.com Associate, the Library earns 5% of all purchases initiated through our site. So, if you click on the Amazon.com logo on any page and place an order, when that item is shipped to you, the Library receives 5% of the cost of the item—books, videos, music, toys, tools—whatever Amazon.com sells. You help the library each time you make your personal Amazon.com purchases through our page.  Use it and tell your friends—we’d like them to be our friends too.

Next to the amazon.com logo, from time to time, you may see small images of books.  We will recommend selected new books for their relevance to the history of City College, CUNY and the city, and your purchases of them are also eligible for 5% for the Library.

Please let us know how you like our re-organized web site. Comments, suggestions and feedback should be addressed to me by calling x7271, sending email to prgcc@scisun.sci.ccny.cuny.edu, or by dropping by NAC 5/333 (Cohen Library).
 

Pamela Gillespie
Chief Librarian
prgcc@scisun.sci.ccny.cuny.edu
 
 
 

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