Actual Web CMS implementations in Libraries or Universities??

[Stephen Davis]

Dear Web4Libbers:

I recall that was a thread a couple of months ago here about content 
management systems, but reviewing the archives just now I couldn't find 
that any library or university had come forward to say they had in fact 
implemented or planned to implement one.

Before we (and I expect others) rev up for local exploration of CMS 
functionality, feasibility & affordability it would be great to know that 
there were some similar places with actual bona fide success stories to 
inspire and spur us onward ;}

When I say "similar places," I guess I mean .... universities / libraries 
that currently have ...

         -- distributed content creation (e.g., from geographically 
dispersed & turfy departments, feisty subject specialists, conservative 
administrative units);
         -- highly variable levels of technical experience & web skill 
among those distributed content creators;
         -- an intranet as well as a public web, both of which have grown 
huge with easy & obsolete HTML;
         -- pre-existing bibliographic and eresource management systems and 
tools that would need to interoperate flexibly with any commercial CMS 
software;
         -- the frequent need to create digital library content with 
different looks and feels and structures from other parts of the library or 
university web;
         -- only about 2 FTE responsible for most aspects of ('manual') 
content management; learning, applying & enforcing standards, web training 
& orientation; etc.

So .... are there any early adopters willing & able to come forward & 
testify about CMS success or lack thereof?


---------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Paul Davis
Digital Library Program
Columbia University Libraries
535 W. 114th Street
New York, NY  10027

email: daviss at columbia.edu
phone: (212) 854-8584
fax: (212) 854-9099
---------------------------------------------------------