Phyllis H. Davidson
Director of Information Technology
Indiana University
Doug Ryner
IUB Libraries Web Administrator
Indiana University
The Indiana University Bloomington Libraries Web site evolved over a period of several years, from a few pages of information to more than 6000 static Web pages, with completely decentralized control over the content and the layout of the pages. The only standard created was a template with a common look and feel that various users adapted in different ways. Many staff spent time learning HTML and trying to keep the content up-to-date, but were not always successful.
At the same time, the site had become a focal point for access to the Libraries’ growing collection of electronic databases, full-text resources, and electronic journals. Two consulting companies conducted usability studies with students and faculty and studied the architecture of the site in 2000. They recommended engineering the site with a database infrastructure and hiring a Web administrator to lead the effort. After a year of searching we hired an experienced Web administrator and formed a planning team. The new site debuted a little more than a year later, in October 2002.
This briefing will describe the re-engineering of the site, assessing philosophical and cultural factors, and highlighting the internal development of a content manager to allow librarians to present information without the need for strong design or HTML skills. We will demonstrate a few highlights and efficiencies of the system (organizing the information, simplicity of publishing, quality control, separating content from presentation, responsiveness, data collection, reporting, and flexibility), and will discuss in detail revisions made to the site since its implementation and planned next steps.
Web Site:
http://www.libraries.iub.edu
Presentation:
Power to the People (PowerPoint)