Need a new library website - help

[Harper, Christopher]

I'd echo the recommendations for WordPress, although full disclosure: I'm kind of a WP fanboy now.

To get up and running with WordPress even quicker, you could just purchase a theme (http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/commercial/ or http://themeforest.net/category/wordpress) or even get a free theme (http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/).  Then you just need a designer / programmer to add some branding and maybe some OPAC integration (e.g. recent or popular items, featured lists) if possible.

Sharon pretty much wrapped everything else up, but I just wanted to point out that you can go WordPress on the super cheap if needed.

________________________________
Chris Harper
Library Information Systems Specialist
Longwood University
434.395.2438

From: Pruntel,Alison [mailto:Alison.Pruntel at FAUQUIERCOUNTY.GOV]
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 12:11 PM
Subject: Need a new library website - help

***Cross-posted to Web4Lib, publib and lita listservs; apologies in advance if you have to read this more than once!***

Hi all,

Our county IT department is moving away from the current website structure and looking at 3rd party vendors to host the county site(s). From preliminary conversations, they are weighing Sharepoint  vs. Vision Internet (http://www.visioninternet.com/index.aspx?page=1). From what I've seen of Vision Internet, it appears that in most counties (at least in Virginia),  the library system goes off to a separate domain/site (not the Vision Internet design/site used for the rest of the county departments). So we are thinking we may need to now budget to do something on our own.

As I am just getting started (reviewing http://www.webjunction.org/technology/website-development/-/articles/content/98104148, etc.), am hoping to get some feedback from other libraries, especially those in Virginia/metro DC area.

Some background...

*         We don't have our own IT department...just me for "technical" issues; I use Dreamweaver to upload content to our current site, maintain our ILS, etc. and otherwise handle other "electronic" librarian duties for databases, e-books, etc. (i.e., "jack of all trades, master of none");

*         While not averse to using something like WordPress for a CMS (hosted by someone else!), something more complicated/staff-intensive like Drupal, Joomla, etc. and anything we'd be required to host ourselves is not really an option at this point;

*         We don't have a designer (let alone a web designer) on staff;

*         We do not want to be responsible for purchasing/configuring/maintaining a server (to be hosted by our county) for this...would want someone else to host;

*         Money is always an issue...$10K is probably all we could afford at this point;

*         We have had NO discussions at this point with board, amongst our staff, etc., as to what a library site should have or what our goals are - and I am aware that should be priority number one;

In light of the above, can anyone who has been in a similar predicament send me any advice/recommendations on a 3rd party vendor (particularly one that works well with libraries) you used  and are happy with, and ballpark cost? Accompanying RFPs would also be appreciated. I realize I will be able to find some of this via discussion on WebJunction, TechSoup, etc. (and have access to Library Technology Reports), but also will gladly take any offline responses as I get started researching this.

Thanks in advance,


Alison Pruntel
Electronic Resources Librarian
Fauquier County Public Library
11 Winchester Street
Warrenton, VA 20186
540-422-8515
alison dot pruntel at fauquiercounty dot gov
FCPL Web Site: http://library.fauquiercounty.gov

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