Hi to all list members. I am pleased to announce the launch of the beta version of Waterford County Library's new web site www.waterfordcountylibrary.ie . Please note that the site is not entirely finished yet and some minor adjustments need to be made to it. We would like list members to get in touch with Waterford County Library Service email rneylin@waterfordcoco.ie and Deise Design email william@deisedesign.com with any observations they would like to make about the new site. We are interested in improving the site so please feel free to make critical comments if you wish. Several of the Library staff have worked on this (ongoing) project for over 10 years; by providing feedback you will demonstrate to Waterford County Council the value of the project and ensure it's continued support for the project. The majority of the work on this project was done by Library Staff who compiled the databases over many years. In particular I would like to mention Donal Brady Waterford County Librarian, Eddie Byrne, Rachel Neylin, Ger Croughan & Noleene Osbourne. Apologies to any Library staff I may have inadvertently missed. Willie Whelan Deise Design What's new about the site:- The new site finally has a database interface that works in pretty much all browsers. I appreciate the difficulties that the previous interface on the Waterford County Council site caused users. This was beyond the control of the Library service and Deise Design. Some new features to look out for on the site include:- · Improved help in how to search the database · Visually Impaired Site - This site is a duplicate of the main site and is designed to be used by those who are blind (using a braille browser) or visually impaired. Unfortunately the databases do not have this functionality. I believe this is the first local authority site in the country to feature a visually impaired module. This module will shortly be deployed on the updated County Council site. · Question Of The Day - As yet this consists of one question. As patrons make requests of the museum staff this section will be added to. · View All recently added articles - Clicking on this link brings up all articles added in the last 30 days. Useful for regular visitors to the site. · Mailing List - Enter your email address to join the Waterford County Library Mailing List and receive email on the latest County Library news and notification when updates are made to the website. The following databases which were formerly part of the Waterford County Council web site have been moved to the library site. Library Catalogue The Library Catalogue is the main point of access to resources held by Waterford County Library. You can search and locate books, journals, maps, photographs, computer files and CD's. Catalogue records provide information about the item searched for, indicating what it contains and where it is located. Trade Directories Historical Trade Directories listing the business and professional people of an area are a core resource for local historians and genealogists. Death Registers Records of all deaths registered in Co. Waterford from January 1st 1864 until December 31st 1901. The Great War : Waterford Dead A database of Waterford people who died in World War One Griffith's Valuation Where people lived and what property they held in County Waterford, 1848 - 1864. Grave Memorials Inscriptions from the headstones of County Waterford graveyards. Community Information Information on community groups, educational institutions, business services, tourism, leisure, administrative, arts and cultural organizations in Waterford City and County. Current Register of Electors The names and addresses of those eligible to vote. Deise Design - Web Site Design & Internet Consultancy www.deisedesign.com 086 2748377