Huntington Library's New Web Site Debuts

If you think the 's home page on the web has a new look, you're right.

The redesigned site debuted Wednesday evening and features lots of art, user-friendly tabs and links to different departments.

Under the different tabs across the top of the page, visitors can link to the various departments, including teen territory and children and parents, learn about new book, music and video titles, and do research.

If you ever lose your place in all the clicks, just go to the top lefthand side of the page and click on the stylized "h" with the words "dream, learn, connect" over it and you will go back to the home page where you can start over.

The redesign has been in the works for about two years, said Lisa Gulino, staff member in the community services department. "We are very excited about it as a vehicle to help the community find what they're looking for and learn about the many wonderful resources, programs, and services we offer here," she said.

In the list down the lefthand side of the page, links let visitors search through the library's databases and access its newsletter electronically. As a bonus with the redesign, the newsletters also are archived, back to the first 2010 issue, noted reference librarian Candace Hope.

For those with questions, there's a "How do I..." section where patrons can click and learn how to reserve a meeting rooom, ask a question of the reference department, place an item on hold, and even pay their fines online.

There's also a handy "Useful Community Links" section with direct links to the town of Huntington's web page, links to citizenship information, Suffolk County government and state unemployment, Talking Books and the Huntington School District. Visitors also can access state and federal tax forms, bus and railroad schedules, and find ZIP codes around Long Island.

The "Today at HPL" links takes visitors to a list of the day's programs, and there's also a monthly calendar link.

Job seekers can use the "Career Information" link, and the "Downloadables" section takes patrons to NetLibrary to download books or to Overdrive Digital Library to download videos, books or music.

Two links from the home page let patrons search Live-brary in Spanish and also link to LibGuides, a list of Spanish-language guides on different topics.

Plus, you can "like" the library on its Facebook page and follow it on Twitter at "huntlibny," where Candace Hope and others tweet about programs.