Spring is here (or at least on its way, depending on your location). Accordingly, we have given our website a new look.

For some of our readers, the new look won’t make much difference. But for others, especially those just getting to know us, this recasting will aid significantly in exploring our course materials, webinars, classes, publications, and other offerings. In fact, we used as a guiding principle the question we often receive: How does our material fit in terms of ages of students and specific categories that define interest and level of ability?

When Hank lifted his tired head from the keyboard to unveil the site to me, I clapped with joy. (Surely you realize that he does all of our technological and design work, and not I.) Simultaneously, I tried to remember how our first site looked, but could not, although Hank surely does.

I do recall, though, a progression of changes since that time. particularly the point when the trend for websites started to favor panels that shifted magically, right to left, in imitation of a high-tech papyrus (or an old-fashioned film strip). A few years later, that look became unfashionable. Scrolling down became the new trend, and so our material (under Hank’s aegis) began to layer downward.

For our new site, the material still unfolds downward, but in a lovely way, with clear categories that remind me a series of colorful billboards along the highway. (Okay, that’s not what you will say, but I grew up enchanted by billboards from those few occasions when my family took a trip. To this day I read billboards with excitement.)

The most important thing is this: visitors will find our material laid out by age and interest. Through a bit of scrolling, a person will come away with a good sense of what we offer, both in hard copy and prolific online materials, as well as the advantages that come with a Circle of Scholars membership. The new site can also serve as a general guide for anyone wanting to craft a study of history, the Fine Arts, or Western cultural heritage.

One last observation: the picture that accompanies a new feature called One-on-One shows me standing in front of the Matterhorn. Despite appearance, it is not photoshopped. Rather, it occurred on a bright summer morning about five years ago while working as Smithsonian professor with a group in Switzerland. The Matterhorn frequently is clad in obscuring clouds, but that day, everything was crystal clear. A fellow traveler invited me to join her and her friend to don beautifully tailored, old-style mountaineering costumes and be photographed in front of the formidable peak. I demurred at first, but these dear gals insisted and even paid for the venture, so I had to jump in. It ended up being hilarious fun. When I saw the pictures that resulted, my mouth dropped. The background was so clear, so vivid, as to be unbelievable. And, no, I’ve never climbed a mountain or had the desire to do so (although I did go skydiving).

We hope you’ll explore and enjoy our new site. I’d love to hear what you think. We’ve got more ideas for new material than fingers and toes, so stay tuned for additions. Also, we want to continue to listen closely to you: what do you need? What would be helpful? Also, how do you like our new features, such as the category we call “Music for Teens”?

The next time I write to you, I’ll be in St. Louis, wrapped in the swirl called “Conference Season.” I look forward to opportunities to meet up with some of you in St. Louis, Greenville, Cincinnati, and other venues. Tour Season is looming too, starting with Croatia and Serbia in May. Like all seasons, these arrive faster than expected, and take my breath away in contemplation of what lies ahead.