[Web4lib] blue sky thinking

[Aslin, Verna]

I can guardedly endorse the suggestion that libraries outsource their
websites to a commercial server. We have been running a site on an
external server for the past 4 years. I say "guardedly" because I think
it has worked well for our library service (particularly when the
alternative was to be restricted to intranet pages), but has been at
times heavy weather for me as our library service's default, low end
"Webbie and Techie".
The commercial hosting service we use has been very reliable and offers
a good range of support technologies, some built into the subscription
rate and some available for a bit extra. Licences for these technologies
would probably have been quite expensive if acquired separately.
Advantages of having the site hosted are the freedom to develop and
evolve away from the standard response of our IT department "Why do you
want to do that?" closely followed by "We don't think you should be
allowed to do that", plus the ability to have outside contractors do
work on your site (something not allowed on our inhouse server for
security reasons, a bit of a Catch-22 when your in-house IT staff don't
want to do any work for you).
The main disadvantage is that puzzling issues arise from time to time
which you really have to solve largely by yourself. Our hosting service
has technical support but they speak tech-speak only, nothing for
dummies at all. Another disadvantage is being officially "frowned on" by
your organisation.
I'd say go for it and publish your library site on an outside server but
preferably have at least one person on staff who is either very tech
savvy or very very keen to learn - preferably both!
  

Verna Aslin
Manager Library & Information Services
North Coast Institute
N.S.W., Australia
ph 02 6586 2223 fax 02 6586 2333
verna.aslin at tafensw.edu.au
 


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