Columbia's Libraries introduced the prototype of a newly designed Web site on Nov. 15 to make it easier for students, faculty and other library patrons to access the Libraries' extensive print and electronic resources, as well as utilize various online services, including book requests, reference help, technical support and contact information. The new site will be cleaner and more pleasing to the eye, and aims to streamline the navigation process for the user.

"It was becoming apparent to the reference staff at Columbia's Libraries that a new interface was needed for LibraryWeb to make it easier for patrons to find the research materials and services they were looking for," said undergraduate librarian Ree DeDonato, a member of the nine-member library redesign task force that has been working on the project since May.

The new Web site has been designed to accentuate electronic resources that may currently be underutilized. Deputy University Librarian Patricia Renfro, who spearheaded the redesign project, said, "We wanted to put emphasis on the rich Web resources that we offer. We think of the Web as a front door into both our print collection and our extensive electronic materials."

Beginning the week of Nov 15th, the prototype of the new Web site can be reached through a link on the Library News box located on the upper right hand corner of the current LibraryWeb. To smooth the transition, the old version will be posted until the end of the year. The new page will supersede it at the start of next semester. This interim period is intended to allow for adjustment and fine-tuning; during this time, special focus group sessions on the new site will be held with faculty and students, and individual library users are encouraged to offer electronic feedback and suggestions. Next spring, hands-on workshops and open houses will provide opportunities to learn more about LibraryWeb and how to use various electronic resources. Training schedules will be included in LibraryWeb.

A key feature of the new Web site is its emphasis on interactivity. "Our Web page allows students and faculty to sit at their desktops and communicate with the library electronically," said Renfro. Help buttons on every page are a direct link to the Libraries' reference staff. Students who run into trouble in the middle of a search, or experience technical difficulties, can send an email for help.

"Eventually we'd like to be able to provide more online support to help students who may be working on papers at 11:30 at night, for example. At present, we are typically able to respond within 24 hours," she said.

Members of the Columbia community have access to one of the nation's largest collections of commercially published electronic information available online, with subscriptions to significant scientific, medical and government publications. In many instances, a library user can order a copy of an article delivered directly to them.

The Columbia Libraries are also part of nonprofit consortiums such as JSTOR, which makes back issues of full-text scholarly journals available online. The Libraries' new home page will spotlight many of these new resources as they become available.

For many users, the first step in finding a book on the new Web site will still be to click on the "Catalogs" button. A search of CLIO, Columbia's online catalog, covers materials acquired since 1981 and many older publications as well.

If a particular item is not currently available in the Columbia Libraries, a user can then proceed to the "Request It" button. Items can then be located using interlibrary loan, or a new service, BorrowDirect, which allows users to request materials from the Yale or University of Pennsylvania libraries (thanks to a cooperative arrangement with those institutions) that will then be delivered within four business days.

Patrons may also visit the "Request It" page to suggest the acquisition of a new book. From there they will soon be able to subscribe to a new service called "CLIO Notify" to alert them to new acquisitions in their field of interest.

Providing more advanced search options continues to be a priority for the Libraries. Renfro said she'd like to see a day when library users can type in a subject and directly access a comprehensive menu of resources including books, journals and specialty Web sites. "We're not there yet, but we're working on it," she said.

"This an extraordinary time for the Libraries as we continue to build our collections, renovate our facilities and develop new ways to provide scholars with better online resources and services," noted Elaine Sloan, university librarian and vice president for information services. "The Libraries' newly redesigned Web site is yet another example of our commitment to providing our patrons with the best possible access to the information resources they need in any format."

The new library Web page was designed by Michele Curry, Libraries communications officer, working in collaboration with Stephen Davis, director of Library Systems, and Dmitri Laury, Libraries Web programmer and analyst.

The Columbia's Libraries comprise 21 libraries, including Butler Library, Lehman (social sciences and social work), Watson (business and economics), C.V. Starr (East Asian), Avery (architecture and fine arts), the Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the branch libraries for the sciences and engineering. They house more than 7.3 million volumes, more than 4.8 million microforms, approximately 41,000 currently received serial titles, 26 million manuscripts, important collections of maps and nonprint materials and an expanding number of electronic resources.