CYBERSPACE SIGHTINGS: Historical Society of Michigan launches new website

The Historical Society of Michigan (HSM) has launched its new website at www.hsmichigan.org. This is the first full redesign that the site has undergone since 2001. "The longevity of our old site--and our ability to keep in current--is a tribute to the outstanding work of our original designers," said Executive Director Larry Wagenaar. "But no matter how good a site is or how much it has evolved, 10 years is a long time. Much has changed in the past decade on the web, and it's time for us to change with it." Today, the website no longer requires specialized knowledge of HTML or CSS. Built in Wordpress, www.hsmichigan.org can easily be edited by the HSM staff, meaning that Society news and updates will be released on a faster and more consistent basis. Also, although the site features much of the same content it did before, it is now organized in a way that is significantly easier to navigate. Visitors can select one of 10 main tabs that direct the user to different subpages that are devoted to topics such as conferences, publications, and programs. In addition to increased functionality, site users now have the ability to renew their membership and magazine subscriptions online, register for conferences via an improved process, and access a store for HSM and Michigan History magazine products. Using the Resources tab on the website, visitors are also able to access and search the bibliographic catalog of the HSM onsite library. (The HSM library is non-circulating and is available for use by current HSM members only.) Hosted by H-Net, the current site was designed by MATRIX: The Center for Humane, Arts, Letters and Social Sciences Online at Michigan State University. The Society intends to add even more functionality to the site as time goes on. The Historical Society of Michigan is the state's oldest cultural organization. Founded in 1828 by Lewis Cass and Henry Schoolcraft, it is an independent non-profit dedicated to the preservation and presentation of Michigan's historical story. Published: Thu, Sep 15, 2011