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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Nutrient Data Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #169023
Title: THE NUTRIENT DATA LABORATORY WEB SITE GETS A NEW LOOK

Author
item Lemar, Linda
item Haytowitz, David
item BINGHAM, MARYBETH - JOHNS HOPKINS UNIV
item Cutrufelli, Rena
item Thomas, Robin

Submitted to: Journal of Food Composition and Analysis
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/11/2006
Publication Date: 1/11/2006
Citation: Lemar, L.E., Haytowitz, D.B., Bingham, M., Cutrufelli, R.L., Thomas, R.G. 2006. The Nutrient Data Laboratory web site gets a new look. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. 19:S96-S99.

Interpretive Summary: As a follow-up to a presentation made at the 28th Nutrient Databank Conference, this paper provides information about the Web site modifications being made by the Nutrient Data Laboratory (NDL) to conform with the new appearance and structure developed by ARS for its main Web sites and all management unit Web sites. The purpose of these changes is to make ARS Web sites more uniform in navigation, enhancing overall ease of use. NDL develops and maintains food composition databases for foods available in the U.S. NDL's Web site is the primary dissemination tool for all of the laboratory's databases and software applications. Therefore, major changes in structure of the Web site affect thousands of customers of NDL's products, information, and resource links. The NDL Web site receives an average of over 95,000 visitors per month. Under the new Web site design, NDL's Web site content will be organized into 7 navigation categories common to all ARS Web sites: About Us, Research, Products & Services, People & Places, Partnering, and Careers. In addition, tabs will allow users to easily access the ARS home page, the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, or the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center. A link to the online search program, as links to the 2 downloadable search applications will be prominently located on the home page. Web statistics reveal that these are some of the most frequently accessed pages on the current NDL site. All of NDL's databases, the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, as well as all special interest databases will be located under Products and Services. NDL will maintain its existing URL, www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp, to facilitate user access.

Technical Abstract: As a follow-up to a presentation made at the 28th Nutrient Databank Conference, this paper provides information about the Web site modifications being made by the Nutrient Data Laboratory (NDL) to conform with the new appearance and structure developed by ARS for its main Web sites and all management unit Web sites. NDL develops and maintains food composition databases for foods available in the U.S. Since the establishment of the NDL home page in 1992, the primary means of dissemination of NDL databases and software applications has been through NDL's Web site. Therefore, major changes in structure of the Web site affect thousands of customers of NDL's products, information, and resource links. The NDL Web site receives an average of over 95,000 visitors per month. Under the new Web site design, tab links to parent organizational units (ARS, the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, or the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center) will appear directly under the banner. To make navigation throughout sites more uniform, the content of every ARS Web site will be arranged into 7 categories: About Us, Research, Products & Services, People & Places, Partnering, and Careers. Quarterly assessments of NDL Web statistics have shown that the online search program, as well as the download search applications for personal digital assistants and personal computers, have shown these programs are some of the most highly accessed pages. Therefore, in the new design, they will be directly accessible through links on the NDL home page. All of NDL's databases, the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, as well as all special interest databases will be located under Products and Services. The NDL Web site is currently located at ww.nal.usda/fnic/foodcomp. Although a new URL will be available, the current Web site address will be maintained to facilitate access by customers familiar with the NDL site.