ENGLAND: New-look website makes Lambeth Palace Library more accessible

December 09, 2008 [Church of England] The collections of Lambeth Palace Library, the historic library and record office of the archbishops of Canterbury and the principal repository of the history of the Church of England, have been made more accessible with the launch of a newly redesigned website at www.lambethpalacelibrary.org.

As well as practical details on accessing the library's collections and other services, the website allows potential users to view the full scope of its research resources via its electronic catalogues and outlines of its holdings.

Improved features on the new-look site include downloadable research guides covering a range of topics, from helping people trace their family history where their ancestors include Anglican clergy, through to trends in church architecture and clerical costume through the ages.

Approximately 20,000 visitors per month currently visit the website, and library staff hopes the revamp will see this number increase.

"As well as bringing a much fresher look to the website, the redesign has made our resources much more accessible to researchers, whether in a professional or personal capacity. We hope that the website will reach out to untapped audiences and encourage them to take the first step of exploring the library's resources, as well as providing greater assistance to those who have used them in the past," said Declan Kelly, the Church of England's director of libraries and archives.

The new site has been designed and developed by Tape London Ltd, which has previously developed a number of high profile websites, including those of the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Museum of London. "The importance of making historical information available online in a cost effective and easily manageable manner was a major attraction to working with Lambeth Palace Library on their website. The library's online visitors will now have a visually entertaining and accessible route into the library's extensive resources," says Ronny Ellefsen, director & creative consultant at Tape London Ltd.

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