Cool Name, Cool Site

Webrary: Is this an online gimmick, where some dot-company tries sell you information you can get for free at your school or public library? No way. The Webrary is an actual library site, from Illinois's Morton Grove Public Library (MGPL), that comes with a light, pleasant touch and a trademarked name. Its kids' division, Kids' Webrary, is a fine tool for young library users.

Whence came the name? Kevin Justie, MGPL's head of technical and automated services (kjustie@webrary.org), says that the staff named the site's list of links "Webrary" when it was first put up in 1995. But when the staff renovated the site in 1997, they decided to call the entire site "Webrary" and trademarked the name. Asked if the library had any bigger (read commercial) plans for the name in this day of dot-coms, Justie replied, "We don't at this point, but as the Web becomes an even more ubiquitous part of everyday life, and a more efficient means of information delivery to people's homes, who knows!"

Makes the eyes smile: With its orange-and-purple color scheme, the Kids' Webrary site looks at first glance as if it's just eye candy. Actually, it's a cleverly designed Web site, with relatively quick-loading and well-balanced graphics and text. Large blocks of text are placed against a white background for easy reading. The site offers links to staff-recommended homework and fun sites, staff-generated booklists, and materials, such as a calendar of events, that promote the library's programs.

Keep it running: The Kids' Webrary went online in January 1998. Children's Services Library Assistant Bev Copeland (bcopelan@webrary.org), who maintains the links on the site, says that the staff spends about five hours monthly checking links and updating calendars and booklists. Copeland is particularly proud of the site's new Harry Potter list, which includes a glossary, "great quotations," and a detailed list of all the food and drink mentioned in the series.