Staff intranet for small libraries

[VanderHart, Robert]

My library's web technical group is beginning discussions on the feasibility
and design of a staff intranet.  We have a staff of less than 40 people.
There is a shared network drive that we use as a repository for library
meeting minutes, projects, etc.  We also have an email list that is used to
inform staff on a variety of issues.  And since we're a small staff,
sometimes word-of-mouth is just fine for some things.  

Given that, I would be interested in hearing from others in similarly sized
libraries who have set up a staff intranet.  What makes your intranet an
enhancement over existing methods of information sharing among staff?  Did
you have to "sell" your staff ("We've already got email, what do we need an
intranet for?") on the idea of an intranet?  

Any ideas, suggestions, or examples would be greatly appreciated.


Robert J. Vander Hart
Reference Librarian/Gov Docs Specialist
The Lamar Soutter Library
University of Massachusetts Medical School
55 Lake Avenue N
Worcester  MA  01655

Voice: (508) 856-3290
Fax: (508) 856-5899
Email: Robert.VanderHart at umassmed.edu
Web: http://library.umassmed.edu