Nearly seven in ten adult Americans now report using the Internet at least occasionally. Using 2000 Census data, that translates to roughly 146 million Internet users. To reach the growing Internet audience and to inform it about AEI's work, the Institute is undertaking a major redesign of its website. The redesign is intended to make the AEI site more user-friendly, and it tailors content to the interests of individual users while emphasizing new media like podcasts, video clips, and RSS feeds.
One of the most important purposes of the AEI website is to update viewers quickly on scholars' work. The homepage displays an interactive feature that provides a quick glimpse of AEI scholars' multifaceted work--from books and events to articles relating to the news. These features, in turn, serve as gateways to unique pages summarizing the work of scholars on more specific topics, such as the war on terrorism.
In addition to this interactive feature, a list of hot topics provides quick links to recently published articles by AEI scholars. The homepage also displays chronological listings of articles and commentary and upcoming events at AEI, as well as featured videos.
The navigation menus reflect the improved organization of the new site and direct users to content by type (such as books, events, or articles), as well as by subject (such as monetary policy, Russia, or education). For advanced searches, the new website uses a Google search engine, enabling visitors to find exactly what they need.
The PUBLICATIONS section displays chronological listings of publications--such as AEI's popular Outlook series, articles and commentary, working papers, government testimony, and speeches--as well as features promoting new works. The BOOKS section will inaugurate a new e-commerce system and connect users to the AEI Press, AEI Classics series, and other books by AEI scholars.
The "smart calendar" in the EVENTS section is an interactive monthly calendar of upcoming events. It reminds users about their registration for upcoming events and gives them access to recently posted video and audio materials and transcripts from past events.
The RESEARCH AREAS section organizes the volumes of content on AEI.org by subject rather than type. These pages paint a comprehensive picture of how particular areas of study relate to the news and policy developments.
The SCHOLARS AND FELLOWS section provides biographical information about AEI scholars, including their work experience; education; and recent publications, speeches, and government testimony. Contact information for scholars and their assistants is prominently displayed at the top of the page next to a downloadable, high-resolution photo of the scholar.
The AEI website also provides a way to reach potential donors--individuals, corporations, and foundations that together provide more than 70 percent of the Institute's support. The website highlights the Institute's planned giving arrangements, which enable donors to achieve personal and family financial goals while supporting current and future endeavors for AEI. The website also provides access to the Associates Program, an introductory donor program that allows members to tap into the same intellectual resources relied upon by many government officials, business executives, and journalists.
Individuals seeking jobs or internships at AEI now apply online. The database application creates an efficient flow of information for AEI's human resources department, permitting it to search for specific skills and to find an applicant's complete record.
In conjunction with its website redesign, AEI is also redesigning its e-newsletters: the daily AEI Today, the biweekly AEI in an Instant, the regular Academics and AEI, and frequent topical updates. These will be upgraded to reflect the new organization of AEI.org, and they will offer e-newsletter subscribers greater ease of reading and navigation and allow the Institute to better tailor content for the policymakers, business leaders, journalists, scholars, and supporters who are among AEI's tens of thousands of online subscribers.
Three talented young people are helping to redesign AEI's website. Elizabeth Roodhouse is managing the website redesign. After receiving a master's degree in English at the University of Virginia, Elizabeth became the lead consultant at the university's Digital Media Lab. At the university's tech camps, she taught web design to youngsters aged 10-17. Joe Faust, AEI's web programmer, started programming at the College of Charleston, where he majored in business and accounting and became the webmaster for the computer science department. After working for a computer consulting group in the Philadelphia area and continuing technical computer education, he joined AEI in October 2006. Laura Drinkwine, the web editor, joined AEI in May 2007 after working as a deputy press secretary on Capitol Hill. Before that, she taught high school English in Ohio.
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