In its continuing efforts to make information about its collections and programs more readily available to its member and users, the Center will complete two important communications projects in coming weeks.

The new version of the CRL website is scheduled to go online in late June. This new version is designed to allow easier navigation, especially regarding information about CRL collections. Although the main web address (http://www.crl.edu) will remain unchanged, improvements in the site’s architecture will mean that some lower level pages will have new URL’s. Automatic redirection will be installed for the most frequently accessed and commonly linked pages, while inquiries to older page addresses will be redirected to the main CRL webpage, where users can search for the new location. Members are requested to verify any links on their own websites to insure that all existing links remain fully operational. The late June changeover date has been chosen to allow members time to make any required changes to links on their own websites before the period of increased activity at the start of the academic year. Notification of the official changeover will be sent over the CRL electronic mailing list “CRL Online” approximately one week before the change.

As noted previously, this is the first phase of the website project, primarily designed to make existing data more easily navigable. In the months ahead, we will expand the information available on the site and establish the CRL site as a platform for communication and exchange of information on specific CRL projects by CRL interest groups.

Also, CRL is designing a new “user brochure” to help member libraries inform their patrons about the variety and scope of the Center’s collections and expand their use. This small brochure will provide an overview of CRL’s holdings to patrons who may be unaware of the materials they can borrow from the Center through interlibrary loan or who may have used one type of materials from the Center but are unaware of the CRL’s other collection strengths. Members will be able to distribute these copies directly to faculty and students of academic departments and have them available at their reference and interlibrary loan offices. Each member will receive an initial quantity of these brochures, and additional copies will be available upon request.

To receive timely news of these projects and other occasional CRL news of interest, individuals may sign up to subscribe to “CRL Online” by sending a message to Jim Green.