Dear AIMS Consultative Group,

As part of the developments to make AIMS and CIARD websites closer, AIMS layout and structure is being changed. The objective is to accommodate the new requirements like exchange of data between CIARD RING, CIARD and AIMS, similar layout to make people easier to understand the connections between the websites and easier editorial sharing efforts.

As a first step of these developments, new mock ups in HTML for the new AIMS Website have been prepared. They include substantials changes, however the essence of the AIMS website is still there. What are these bigger changes?

• AIMS should accommodate other resources (standards, toold and services) developed and used within the CIARD Community. To achieve this objective the VEST registry (on the mock up called directories) become the backbone of AIMS, and the natural link between AIMS, CIARD and the CIARD Ring
• AIMS should integrate existing information available from the CIARD Ring regarding “Who is using what” or “What information services are using this tool, metadata or vocabulary”, e.g. what institution under the CIARD umbrella are using AgriDrupal and how to contact them
• AIMS should share the same taxonomy with the CIARD website https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AgFzaNRdqrU4dFJmaExJamhnUWpueFNvbVB1Tk1GUVE&usp=drive_web#gid=0 in order to facilitate the exchange of content, especially with reference to blogs, news and events
• Major relevance to the AIMS taxonomy should be given to provide a flatter structure to present the existing resources on AIMS. This leaded us to develop to different menus: Thematic, based on the taxonomy, called in the mock up as Areas of Interest; and Functional, which includes the aread of work of the AIMS community, like Activity, Events, Training and VEST Registry (called in the mock up as directories)
• Content and community should much closer, avoiding a division between both concepts.

As a result of this brainstorm and work, you can access to http://aims-revamp.macaronilab.com/frontend/ using the user: fao and password: aims. You will find 9 mock ups for the following pages:

• Home page
• Directories: search tools
• Directories: tool page
• Directories: vocabulary page
• Directories: metadata page
• Area of interest page
• About us page
• Training page
• Activity page

None of the links available on the pages work, as this is not a mock up based on Drupal but in HTML. The exiting pages are only those list above.

Additionally, you will find on the right bottom of the page a box called SWITCH THEME. Three different themes have been prepared, changing slightly colors and font size/colors.

Important things:

• If you go to http://aims-revamp.macaronilab.com/frontend/vocabulary.php, which will be the main page for AGROVOC, the information about “Tools that support its use” is relating content to software that allows the integration of AGROVOC (information extracted from the VEST registry of Tools). Additionally under “Who is using it”, it is possible to filter all the registered services on the ring that are using AGROVOC. More info can be filtered, so any proposal is very much welcome.
• If you go to http://aims-revamp.macaronilab.com/frontend/community.php, besides the filter by country, is also possible to filter by expertise (see icon on the top of the page) and also search view all members as it is used in the current website.
• If you go to http://aims-revamp.macaronilab.com/frontend/training.php, it is possible to filter resources (slideshare, youtube, webinars, publications) by topic. Additionally, publications will be integrated from e-LIS website, as there is possible to get a full reference of the papers (+ in the future we could also integrate publications from more groups within the AIMS community)
• If you go to http://aims-revamp.macaronilab.com/frontend/area-interest.php, you will find an example of page by any of the topics available in the AIMS taxonomy, adding blogs, news and events, and also the people within the AIMS community that have been tagged with this term

I am looking forward for your feedback, crucial to make the AIMS new website! Please spend only some minutes to go throuh the mock ups and provide your comments, suggestions and opinions. 

All the best,

Imma