File Redesign of Online News Services Improves Facts On File Databases

Facts On File announced a file redesigns of four popular online News Services databases. File redesigns give them a colorful, consistent look and feel. It also makes them more user-friendly and easier to navigate. Facts On File’s parent company, Infobase Publishing Company, acquired assets of Facts On File News Services in August 2007.

The file redesign of the four News Services databases is complete:

• Issues and Controversies
• Issues and Controversies in American History
• World News Digest
• Today’s Science

This update adds a new interface, more tools, new special features, and more. Users will recognize the familiar and trusted content of these acclaimed databases—but with a reorganization and new design that make these products even more dynamic, powerful, and a better reflection of the enormous depth and breadth of content they contain. The databases continue to be frequently updated.

“Since Facts On File and Facts On File News Services reunited, our editors and online staff have worked hard. They have added new and exciting improvements to the databases,” said Paul Conklin, Director of Sales at Facts On File. “These redesigns make the databases much more efficient, the wealth of content more accessible than ever, the look much more elegant and user-friendly—all a great boon for students and researchers.”

New Enhancements With the File Redesign

Among the many new enhancements to Facts On File’s four online News Services databases are:

• Among the most noticeable changes due to the file redesigns are the new database home pages. They have a cleaner, more streamlined look. The thematic indexes are customized for each database. They are now easier to access from the left-hand navigation area. The redesigned Featured Stories section spotlights editor-selected topics. Special features and key content listings are now highlighted in three featured “pod” areas. These pods allow one-click access to specific content and listings.
• Citations and Persistent Record Links are valuable tools for educators and researchers. New persistent record links now appear at the bottom of every story. The redesign makes citations more prominent.
• Improved Search Features—The keyword search and extra search options are now in one consistent location. These options include full-text or title-only search, date-range search, and date-ordered results. They are available on all screens in all databases. The new Advanced Search is available from any screen. It lets users view their Search History. The Available Databases page now makes it easier to search across all subscribed News Services databases.
• Enhanced Search Results—The redesign makes search tools even more effective, with improved “relevance” ranking for all search results, results ranked according to relevance by default, and improved page navigation options (previous, next, go to page #, etc.). Search results now display using convenient tabbed categories.
• Improved Navigation—The redesigned Curriculum Tools area (previously called “Resource Center”) allows direct access to the wide range of educator and student resources available within each database.