Maintenance is so booooooooooring -Reply

[Dan Lester]

>>> SHERYL DWINELL <dwinells at vmsb.csd.mu.edu>
08/14/97 08:10pm >>>
Well, I delete them.  If I mail deadlinks to someone and don't
hear from them in two weeks (of course I make sure they
aren't on vacation or away for some other reason), I remove
them from the page.
--------------
By using Cyberspyder, there are web pages for the reports,
and those web pages are in public view (though not linked to
homepage of the library....I may link them to staff homepage)
Every month I rerun the reports (takes about ten minutes of
my time, and they're checked in background as I do other
work on the same box) and notify the users that they've been
rerun (I just have an email list of all web page authors and
prospective authors).  Since the errors, dead and moved
links, etc, are all in the reports, fixing their own pages is up to
them.  I'm not their boss, so if they don't update it is up to
their boss to fuss at them if things look bad for their
department.  Since my name and mailto are on the pages
that I maintain, and not anyone else's, it isn't my problem. 
There are MANY advantages in not being in charge, not
controlling, not being the boss.  "t'aint my problem"

======================
 My 'solution' has been to suggest that they  pass off the
responsibility to someone else in the library who IS interested
in the subject matter and would maintain the page.  I haven't
gotten to far with that idea yet, but I'm still hoping. To me, it
reflects negatively on the library if the information is 
stale, or the person compiling the page has made a
half-hearted effort. 
-------------------
I agree that it reflects negatively to some extent if pages are
ugly, heavily loaded with broken links, etc.  But, since I'm in
charge of the tech side of the server, plus some pages,
training of page creators, technical assistance to all, etc, I
can't be worried about how much is broken.  I provide the
information and management knows how to check the
cyberspyder reports on the web.  If THEY choose to jump on
someone, etc, that's their business, not mine.  I've carefully
taught all the people here that I'm NOT their boss.  I can tell
them what CAN be done, but not what MAY or SHOULD be
done. I will offer my opinions if asked.  Some bosses are very
laidback, others are the opposite.  o-)

dan