New ALA Web site only a week away!

The American Library Association and PLA wanted to remind everyone that we will begin our transition to our new Web site April 7. Collectively, we have converted about 40,000 Web pages to the new content management system. The ALA also has expanded its customer service hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central to assist members and the public with navigating the new site.

The new site will feature a better search engine, one-stop pages detailing ALA's work in major areas of interest, a more modern look and feel and more content to help library professionals in their daily work. The home page also will feature new navigation headings:

Awards & Scholarships (includes information on grants, fellowships and professional achievement awards);
Education & Careers (includes information on accredited programs, recruitment and continuing education);
Events & Conferences (goings-on at ALA, its divisions, office and roundtables);
Issues & Advocacy (one-stop pages for information on issues ranging from diversity to censorship to literacy);
Libraries & You (geared to the public, with recommended reading lists and information on how to support libraries);
News (the latest press releases, press kits and promotions;
Our Association (access to ALA governance, divisions, offices and customer service);
Products & Publications (everything printed, published or sold by the ALA); and
Professional Tools (a toolbox of resources for those who work in all types of libraries, including collection services, administration and management and user services)

The ALA previewed the site during its 2003 Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia. For a sneak peak at the site now, please go to: http://www.ala.org/newsite.

To locate PLA's, click on "Your Association" at the top of the page, then click on "Divisions" on the left-hand side, then select "Public Library Association." You may also use the "Search" function to locate pages you may have bookmarked in the old system.

During the first week of the Web transition, Customer Service hours will be extended to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Staff will be prepared to help locate information and switch over bookmarks. A new FAQ also will be loaded onto the ALA home page with step-by-step information on how to get to some of the most frequently visited Web pages.

"I believe this new design positions the association for the future - giving our members the ability to customize our Web content for their use, making the site more accessible for the general public and creating a more consistent online presence," said ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels. "We welcome member feedback throughout this transition as we continue to improve the site." A new email address has been created to receive online feedback at feedback@ala.org.

For more information or assistance, please call ALA Customer Service at 800-545-2433 and press 5.