[Web4lib] city swallows library website

Wed May 2 19:56:12 EDT 2007

You may also want to check out my article, unfortunately not available
online for free, "I've Been Framed! Designing a Library Web Site Within
a Government Frame" in Computers in Libraries  25(6)(June 2005): 6-8,
48.  It discusses strategies when you're put in this unenviable
situation, as I was in my last position.

Best,
Sarah Houghton-Jan
LibrarianInBlack.net

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Louise Alcorn
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 3:21 PM
To: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Web4lib] city swallows library website

Hi Michele. In response to your email below:

Our (public, municipal) library had a website before the City did.  When
the City decided to launch something, I made sure the library (me, as it
happens) was involved fully at every step, including a major redesign a
couple of years later.  

That said, when recently we were offered money by our Friends (who were
looking for a project to fund) to revamp our Library website, we jumped
at the chance.  With some limitations - we immediately spoke to our city
manager, who is very tech-hungry and hates to pass up free money to
enhance the city.  He agreed that we could go ahead with a new 'look and
feel' for the library as long as 1) it continued to link back to the
City's website(s), so it was still clear the library was a city dept and
2) when the city found money to revamp, we'd share the design specs and
thus be the 'cart that drove the horse'.  Our design is finished, though
not yet 'live' (about 2 weeks, I hope!).  If you go to our website -
www.wdmlibrary.org - you can see a 'teaser' of the new site in an image
on the front page.  The city is already moving toward a (probably
simpler) version of our design, working with the same web design company
(we've been working with them since 1999).  

Another note:  You do NOT have to give up your library.org domain, even
if you merge with the city site.  There is NO reason the domain can't
point to a Library *section* of a larger City site - push for a separate
section that can be managed independently.  Get other city departments
(who want the same thing) on your side.  You still have to explain to
the Power that Be why the library is important (something we all
struggle with every day), and in particular why a library Web presence
is so essential (information provision is our business, we are a
community info hub, etc.).

Be present at EVERY meeting related to website design.  If there's a
committee created in the city, be on it!  I ended up -running- the
committee during the last major redesign, and was just in a meeting on
Monday where another dept asked my help, **as an information
professional** on ideas for their new website design.  Get your
name/face/professional expertise out there, and the library can benefit.

Those are my general thoughts from both past and VERY present
experience.  I'm happy to share more off-list if it would help you.

Best,
Louise

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Louise E. Alcorn
Reference Technology Librarian
West Des Moines Public Library
4000 Mills Civic Pkwy
West Des Moines IA 50265
(515) 222-3573      louise.alcorn at wdm-ia.com
http://www.wdmlibrary.org  

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Michele Hampshire
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 12:33 PM
To: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Web4lib] city swallows library website

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.
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