Bloomsbury.com is provided courtesy of Bloomsbury Publishing. Bloomsbury Publishing is a literary community dedicated to anyone interested in literature and writing. They are a leading independent publisher and winner of the 1999 and 2000 Publisher of the Year awards.
This web site allows users to research authors and their latest releases in the “What's New” section. Users can browse through Catalogues and buy books from the online Bookshop. The site provides a range of guides such as the Reading Group. There is also a Research Centre, which is a free online database offering access to an extensive range of the company's reference titles. Over 17,000 entries are cross‐referenced providing a wealth of fully indexed information. Reference books include titles such as the Dictionary of Politics and Government and the Encarta: Book of Quotations.
Additionally, there is a Writers' Area section devoted to writers – published and unpublished. This is especially useful for unpublished authors as an instructional guide to navigate effectively through the seemingly cumbersome process of getting published. Unpublished authors will find lots of practical advice, including a Reading Club with reading guides, as well as online Reading Courses. Members of the Reading Club, have unique access to some of the world's greatest authors, and an inside track on the latest literary events. Reading Courses offers an in‐depth understanding of genres, authors and works; exposure to new literary perspectives; valuable tutelage of experts; hyperlinked supporting materials and finally inclusion in discussion groups exclusive to course participants. Each course can be read online, downloaded and/or printed. Users need to register for this enhanced access. Registering lets users purchase books and enrol in the aforementioned courses and participate in on‐site activities.
The Writers' Area, just like the entire web site, is extremely clear and very user‐friendly. It includes information on How to Submit a Manuscript; a list of Dos and Don'ts on Approaching a Publisher and a list of Literary Agents, both in the UK and the USA and much more. The Dos and Don'ts section helps authors identify the appropriate publisher to submit the material to as well as guidelines on how to proceed. The site explains that every year, thousands by hopeful authors submit manuscripts to publishers but only small proportions are accepted for publication. “Some are needlessly rejected either because they were sent to the wrong publisher, or because the publisher's submission procedure was not followed.”
There is also a Web Directory section that includes resources from a host of international sources and conferences and libraries, etc. Users can view listings of upcoming author events, with schedules of readings and book signings across the UK and the USA.
There are search tips prominently displayed on the Homepage. The search engine allows users to search for a wide range of subjects including literature, art, myth, human thought, quotations and a thesaurus or browse by title. This site is designed so that it is easy for users to navigate, with many areas easily accessed from a variety of locations. For example, users can get to the Research Centre from the Home page, from the top navigation buttons, and also from the Web Directory section of the Writers' Area. This impressive web site, while loaded with information has an aesthetically appealing, clean layout and is not crowded. There is only one small image that is animated on the Homepage. The image is not distracting and enhances the site's design.
The most amusing aspect of the web site is the section listed under the Etc link. This includes fun, informative features such as: the Word of the Day; On This Day in Literary History; competitions to win free books; and an e‐greeting cards centre where users can create and send a card for every occasion. Users simply click on a title to choose from a range of e‐greeting cards based on Bloomsbury books. Choices range from romantic visuals for February 14th to a selection of Christmas e‐greeting cards. The cards are simplistic and rather plain postcards but are probably suitable for the target audience. The cards are sent to the recipients immediately.
Another nice feature is that inclusion of positive feedback from users and media agents. This sample selection accurately reflects the experience of using this web site: In a section titled “What the press says … ” the statement is: “Bloomsbury's cool, compact yet comprehensive site deserves a mention on any review of web sites, not just book web sites… this award‐winning website genuinely improves your relationship with the Bloomsbury brand” Publishing News.
There were no negative features of this web site. The information is clearly presented, it is incredibly easy to navigate and definitely user‐friendly. The site meets its goals and is a useful resource for its target audience. Overall, this is an amazing writer's almanac and is highly recommended for the global literary community, all authors, but especially unpublished authors.
