Libraries managing Web sites

[Donna Reed]

I will not be at the ALA Mid-winter Conference, but am very interested in 
the topic.  Our library has been given a grant to develop the County Web 
presence and to weave it into our regional effort.  Additionally we have 
created a Library Site which now contains a Reference Sites Page 
and a Kids Page (both created and maintained by staff).

We are very happy that the library has been given the responsibility for 
coordinating the effort.  I have been hired as a Community Information 
System Program Specialist to oversee the project.  All of this brings up 
issues of how to manage a site in an environment where staff are already 
feeling overburdened with duties.  

Our library is committed to going further down this road, but we have 
been meeting about the library site, since last August about structure 
issues and only now are certain things becoming obvious.  In my opinion, 
we need to acknowledge several things in order to move forward.

1.  Although the environment is not hierarchical, things flow more 
smoothly when built upon a structure.
2.  These projects can be managed and incorporated by dividing the tasks 
among a number of staff.
3.  Pages created by the producing agency/department, etc. tend to 
contain higher quality content.  
4.  Mistakes can be fixed!

It's good to hear that others are struggling with similar issues.  I find 
that the County Departments and other regional efforts are having the 
same discussions as those occurring on this list.  Feel free to visit our 
library http://www.multnomah.lib.or.us/lib, or the county 
http://www.multnomah.lib.or.us/  and let us know what you think!  

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                              DONNA REED
Multnomah County Public Library         Phone:  (503) 248-5238
Project Development Specialist          Fax:    (503) 248-3643
        Internet: donnare at nethost.multnomah.lib.or.us
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