Great Websites for Kids Re-launches with New Design

Great Websites for Kids (GWS) (www.ala.org/greatsites), the Association for Library Service to Children’s (ALSC) online website directory, has been completely redesigned. The updated site boasts a fresh and colorful kid-friendly look and interactive social media enhancements. Clear, bright icons display subject categories and appear on every page, while eye-catching thumbnail images provide a visual preview of each great site represented. Special sections highlight Sites of the Week and Month, Most Popular pages and Top Rated selections. Prompts for each site offer “more selections like this.” Visitors can actively connect with the site and further their online experience by rating sites; sharing their favorites on social media sites such as Facebook; and emailing recommendations to friends. “Great Websites for Kids is a prime example of the essential work librarians do in disseminating high quality information,” said Mary Fellows, ALSC President. “The GWS transformation is a content-rich, visually exciting advancement for a terrific tool.” The recent updates to GWS are part of a two-phase makeover for the popular site. Phase two improvements will take place in 2012 and include further development of “social” functionality and interactivity. ALSC, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 4,000 children’s and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for children through libraries. To learn more about ALSC, visit www.ala.org/alsc. To comment, share, or see related resources and images, go here.