URLs are of course the standard addresses used to refer to websites. URLs suffer from two common problems – (i) many are so long that it is difficult to transmit them, and (ii) many change constantly, leading to broken addresses. However, if one doesn't have a URL that leads directly to the resource or website to which one wants to refer, then it requires clumsy directions as to how to proceed from a more general page which has links leading to the desired page.
The Tibetan & Himalayan Library (http://www.thlib.org) is itself a website, but it also publishes many individual websites with their own distinct banners and self-contained experiences. We try, within the limits of funding, to purchase short URLs specific to those websites. Otherwise we provide relatively short and clear URLs. We can also, when it is important, make URLS of the form www.thlib.org/x/Name, where "name" is a name referring to the resource in question. In addition, for specific types of resources – an image, a place dictionary entry, and so forth – we are developing an identification system through which short URLs with embedded identification numbers can proceed straight to resources such as an individual image, or a single audio-video recording.
If users want to create a short URL for a THL resource for their own purposes, we suggest using a resource like http://tinyurl.com/. It will take any URL and produce a short URL for reference purposes.
The following is a list only of those URLs for portals or resources which we have published or republished on the new site.
THL Homepage: www.thlib.org
JIATS Journal: www.jiats.org
Sera Monastery Portal: www.seramonastery.info
Drepung Monastery Portal: www.drepung.info
Meru Nyingpa Monastery Portal: www.merunyingpa.info