Welcome
Meet the new Commonwealth Banner for state Web sites!
This great new addition to the Commonwealth Web Site Standard provides rich functionality for users and further enhances the citizen-driven goal of achieving common look and feel. It is a key component of the Kaine Administration's initiatives to assist citizens in finding the government services they need, even and especially if they do not know which agency provides those services.
Among the most notable changes to the Commonwealth Banner: a brand new logo for Virginia.gov, an enterprise search box that accesses the new Google Custom Search Engine™ on Virginia.gov, and enterprise links that now include direct "help" assistance. Beyond the new state banner, agencies now have the benefit of an expanded agency banner to a new, doubled size.
The changes you'll see have been developed with input from public comment on ORCA, the Commonwealth Web work group, and even NASCIO guidance on best practices for state government Web sites.
The updates to the Commonwealth Web Site Standard (WSS) adopting the new banner have been officially reviewed and approved by the CIO and the IT Investment Board. The standard is now an official requirement for all state entities in scope to the WSS. Out of scope state entities are also welcome and encouraged to adopt the Commonwealth Banner to take advantage of its enterprise functionality.
The new WSS is effective now, and the new Commonwealth Banner must be implemented by June 1, 2007. Though the time is short, the process is easy, especially if your agency's site already adheres to the WSS.
A guide follows illustrating the changes and the steps you'll need to take to install it. Complete, tested, XHTML strict compliant, and accessible code for the actual banner is included.
If you need assistance, the VITA team has worked through the process and can help you; please don't hesitate to contact webstandards@vita.virginia.gov.
Resources
- Revised Standard
- Commonwealth Banner Implementation Instructions and Code
- Full code and styles for breadcrumb bar
Artwork
White Text on Black Background - 72 dpi
Black Text on White Background - 72 dpi
Important Dates
- June 1, 2007 – Commonwealth Banner must be implemented.
- October 1, 2007 – New, expanded agency banner and revised breadcrumb with search box must be implemented