[Web4lib] Is your library using a Web Content Management System?

[Chris Awre]

John,

We have been rolling out the open source HyperContent CMS from Columbia 
University since last year and all our library webpages are now running 
through this.  We have found this to be very user-friendly and 
flexible.

HyperContent - http://hypercontent.sourceforge.net/
Library website - http://www.hull.ac.uk/lib/ (though please note a 
re-design is currently underway).  For another design see a project 
website at http://www.hull.ac.uk/esig/cree/

In answer to your queries:

1. + 2. see above
3. Benefits - open source software that is stable and does everything 
we need it to; content editors have found it simple to use after short 
training session; it integrates with our institutional portal 
(uPortal); it offers very flexible XSLT design; all content can be 
output as PDF.  Drawbacks - it is open source and therefore all support 
is down to us (though this hasn't been a problem); version 1.4 has 
quite a few steps to go through to edit content (although I understand 
that version 2.0 has improved this); the interface isn't as intuitive 
as it might be.  It is a Java-based system, so some in-house Java skill 
is required for implementation and maintenance.
4. The driver behind our use of a CMS was the implementation of our 
institutional portal.  The CMS serves the library, but only as one of 
the many departments and sections making use of the system.  However, 
flexible presentation was an important criteria, preventing the same 
content having to held more than once for different webpages.  For the 
library there was a matter of control (as in management, not big 
brother) - the CMS offered this better than other options.
5. Much of the University of Hull website is using the CMS, though it 
is still in the process of being rolled out.  The public front page of 
the University uses a different system as the role of these pages 
(marketing) is quite different to that of others.
6. We have distributed the editing and provision of content through the 
CMS wherever possible.  There are therefore an increasing body of users 
around the university.

Good luck in your search!

Regards,

Chris
***********************************
Chris Awre
Integration Architect
e-Services Integration Group
Brynmor Jones Library
University of Hull
Cottingham Road
Hull HU6 7LY

t: 01482 46 5441
e: c.awre at hull.ac.uk
***********************************
On 8 Jul 2005, at 18:53, John Weible wrote:

> We are looking at implementing a web Content Management System (CMS) 
> here at the University of Illinois Library, and want to hear from any 
> libraries that have implemented (or are in the process of 
> implementing) one at their institution.
>
> We are especially interested in the following things:
>
>   1. What CMS did you choose to use, and why?
>   2. Could you share some URLs of sample pages that show the
>      implementation of your CMS?
>   3. What have been some of the benefits/drawbacks from your
>      implementation of a CMS?
>   4. What needs did librarians, staff, and users express for your
>      website that led you to pursue using a CMS for your library 
> website?
>   5. If you have completed your implementation, are you now hosting all
>      of your web site via the CMS, or is it a mixture of traditional
>      web pages and CMS-managed content?
>   6. How many people are directly involved in contributing and editing
>      the content on your website?
>
> We appreciate any other comments or insights you might have to share 
> as well.
>
> Thanks!
>
> John Weible
> Head of Library Systems
> University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
> email: jweible at uiuc.edu  phone: 217-244-4688
>
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