British Veterinary Association Launches New Website

Main Category: Veterinary
Also Included In: IT / Internet / E-mail
Article Date: 18 Sep 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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Today sees the long awaited launch of the new BVA website, http://www.bva.co.uk , redeveloped following the results of a members' research survey carried out in 2007.

Commenting on the redesign BVA President Nick Blayney said: "With the aid of a professional web developer we have worked hard to ensure that the new site is as user-friendly as possible and that information is easy to find. We have incorporated all the functional elements members asked for, and a few more on top. Members told us for instance that they found the old site hard to navigate and search for information. They also wanted to set their own passwords, join or renew membership online, update personal details and have easy access to publications and resources.

"The new site structure has been developed in conjunction with the BVA's Members Services Group to ensure that it is logical to use and an improved search facility, an A-Z search, a site map and a breadcrumb trail will make using the site and accessing information as user-friendly as possible. We've also done away with the clearly divided member/non-member areas of the site. Instead, each page of the new site has the facility to include secure member content. If a page contains secure content, and you are not logged in as a member, you will see a prompt to login."

Mr Blayney was particularly pleased with the new members' discussion board, accessible via the members' login page "designed" he said "to facilitate the flow of communication between members and BVA. We've also moved the Young Vet Network (YVN) discussion forum off Yahoo groups and on to the new site in the YVN section of the website, which we hope will encourage a wider uptake amongst our younger members. The YVN forum can" he pointed out "only be accessed by BVA members in their final year and up to eight years qualified. For both discussion forums, members will need to register first and will be able to set preferences on receiving all posts by email, or just receiving information by visiting the forums as and when they wish."

But it's not all new. The BVA has kept some of the most popular functions of the old site, like the events diary where anything from national CPD courses, smaller regional meetings or informal gatherings can be posted and has also updated all the content to ensure that everything on the site is relevant and up-to-date. According to Nick Blayney "for everything from the latest information on a topical disease, to what support is available to young vets, http://www.bva.co.uk should be the one-stop shop. All at BVA very much hope that our members and the profession at large like the improvements we've made and naturally we welcome any feedback."

British Veterinary Association
7 Mansfield Street, London W1G 9NQ
http://www.bva.co.uk

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