New OLIS web site address: www.olis.ri.gov

[November 22, 2006] The OLIS Web Team has released a new version of the OLIS web site. The site has been redesigned and moved to a new URL, www.olis.ri.gov, to identify it as the web site of the Office of Library and Information Services. The changes go far deeper, though. The Web Team examined the extensive LORI site and streamlined it to improve access to the information and services provided by OLIS. Usability has been improved for people with disabilities and for people accessing the site using handheld devices. The site also sports the new look of RI state government websites, a transition that will be taking place across state government over the next few years.

We ask that you take a little time to familiarize yourself with the new site, after reviewing the Improvements, Featured Resources, and Technical Improvements listed below. You will also need to reset all your bookmarks or favorites for OLIS web site pages.

Site Improvements

• Consistent navigation throughout the site:
  • Left hand navigation, present throughout the site, takes you to major areas of the website
  • Right hand navigation provides links specific to that section, with Quicklinks to related resources
  • Breadcrumbs at the top center of each page locates your current place in the website
• Contacts for OLIS and the Library Calendar are clearly visible on every page
• Separate print layout - now you can print just the information you need, without extraneous headers, graphics or web navigation (check this out by going to Print Preview for this page)
• Improved access for users with disabilities
• Improved accessibility for handheld devices

Featured Resources

The new website continues to provide all the great resources that the RI library community depends on:

• Continuing Education Programs, with online registration
• Networks Standards Certification application
• OLIS Jobline
• Online Forms
• RI Library Directory (database-driven)
• Statewide Interlibrary Loan
• And all services and resources that existed on the previous LORI website

If you cannot find content that existed on the LORI website, please let us know by sending an email to the webmaster. And if you like the new site or have comments or recommendations, please let us know that, too.

Technical Innovations

• Standards-based design uses CSS instead of tables for layout
• Home page content is database driven and available via RSS
• Rhodarian, the OLIS blog, fed onto various pages, also available as an RSS feed
• Relative sizing of fonts allows any user to change the text size on pages through their browser