[Web4lib] city swallows library website

[Michele Hampshire]

I appreciate all the comments; thanks. I do think that when a city
redesigns its website and incorporates the library site into that, there
are ways to make it work.  I can see that one way to approach it is to
ensure that the Library content is prominent; I wonder, though, if there
are any public librarians on this list who have been involved in such a
process and could offer some practical advice.

For one thing, how does the catalog search box fit into the city's
website? How could confusion about searching for a book vs. searching
for the planning commission agenda be minimized?  What about URL
redirects with the 200+ pages on our library.org domain? I really don't
want to relinquish the library.org domain (not just because we'd have to
reprint all our stationery). If anyone has any tips on other issues I
might think about, I'd be grateful. 

Off-list replies are welcome; I'd happily summarize for the list.  

Michele Hampshire
Web Librarian
Mill Valley Public Library
375 Throckmorton Ave.
Mill Valley, CA 94941
415-389-4292 x107
http://millvalleylibrary.org


-----Original Message-----
From: Robert L. Balliot [mailto:rballiot at oceanstatelibrarian.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 5:17 PM
To: Michele Hampshire; web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Web4lib] city swallows library website



Greetings,

I don't think that either of the outcomes that you postulate are
correct. Librarians should manage the information content on the web
sites for their cities and towns.  The mission of public libraries in
general includes providing information, education, and entertainment
resources to the public. Where is the efficiency in having that only
apply to print and media?

Almost all public libraries also serve as the primary or 
secondary resource in their community for public information. 
Often, city and town clerks are elected, so there is no 
reason to expect that they have professional information 
management skills.

This feeds back to the problem with moving professional librarians past
their comfort zone to embrace technology beyond the drawer and
typewriter.  However, from a logical and professional standpoint, I
believe that libraries should have the role of information management
and content management for their parent organizations.

I have developed municipal websites from primary resource documents in
absence of the parent organization be able to conceptualize what
information they wanted to provide. Using charters, organizational
structure, local ordinances, committee and board mandates, and state
law, you can build a municipal web site that supports the democratic
process and offers transparency of government activities.  

*************************************************
Robert L. Balliot
1-401-421-5763
Skype: RBalliot
Bristol, Rhode Island http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm
*************************************************


-----Original Message-----
On Behalf Of Michele Hampshire
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 6:28 PM
To: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Web4lib] city swallows library website

Some months ago there was a discussion on this list about ways to keep
library websites in-house.  The discussion centered around university
websites, but since this issue affects public libraries, as well, I'd
like to hear from those on the list who have opinions about how to make
this kind of change successful or how to successfully argue that the
challenges are insurmountable.  
 
Best,
Michele Hampshire
Web Librarian
Mill Valley Public Library
375 Throckmorton Ave.
Mill Valley, CA 94941
415-389-4292 x107
http://millvalleylibrary.org <http://millvalleylibrary.org/>