[Web4lib] Content inventory of web site

[Susan Basye]

Hello!

I've been reading the book "Communicating Design: Developing Web Site
Documentation for Design and Planning" recently.  The chapters on content
inventories gave me some good ideas on how to inventory a site and how the
inventory may be used.  We have a very basic inventory, mostly at the
directory level, because the responsibilities for our pages is very
decentralized.  I'm responsible for the upper level pages but 30 other
individuals are responsible for the rest of the site's content.  

I am wondering if it is a common practice in the real world to create and
maintain an inventory for a site that is more decentralized.  I would be
interested to hear about other's experiences with content inventories - did
you discover many benefits from creating one, is it a headache to try to
maintain one for a decentralized site...  It sure seems like a very good
idea for a site but the thought of keeping the inventory updated makes my
head spin!

Thanks,

Susan Basye
(Library web coordinator)

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Susan Basye
Administrative Operations Coordinator
Rod Library
University of Northern Iowa
1227 West 27th Street
Cedar Falls, Iowa  50613-3675

(319) 273-2737

susan.basye at uni.edu