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

[Isabel Danforth]

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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