The Advantages

∞ Get your websites back into your hands. ∞ Control your updates. ∞ Experiment at will. ∞ Be empowered! ∞ Gain new skills.

Disadvantage: Support

∞ Massive online communities ∞ Communicate with other libraries ∞ Choose a host with excellent customer service reviews. ∞ Anticipate occasional downtime when working through issues.

Step 1: Domain Name

∞ Who owns your current domain name? ∞ Get all the account information. ∞ Stick with your original domain name unless it’s very confusing or your library name has changed.

Step 2: Choose a Host

∞ Bewildering amount of choices. ∞ Read reviews carefully. ∞ Choose a plan that seems reasonable for your library. ∞ Look for features like the Fantastico button that make installing a CMS easier.

Step 3: Choose a CMS

∞ Wordpress ∞ Drupal ∞ Joomla ∞ Other, smaller, online options.

Content Management System

Web-based Point WYSIWYG

∞ Many companies online specialize in easy to customize websites. ∞ Squarespace, Weebly, Wix are just a few. ∞ Check device compatibility. i.e. Flash based sites won’t work on iPads.

Wordpress ∞ Light, simple, easy to use and install. ∞ Best for small libraries with limited content

and updates. ∞ Perfect for other small websites like friends

groups and teen centers. ∞ Can be used for blogging .

Wordpress Dashboard

Manage Themes

Spring for Custom Themes

Or Edit Existing Ones

More Libraries with Wordpress Sites

•Monroe County Public Library (http://www.keyslibraries.org/ ) •Cranbury Public Library (http://www.cranburypubliclibrary.org/ ) •Troy Public Library •( http://www.thetroylibrary.org/ )

These sites all have: -information the public wants (phone number, hours, upcoming programs and catalog) -clean and simple look

Drupal and Joomla ∞ Best for libraries with a lot of content. ∞ Open source (free like a puppy, but more customizable). ∞ Huge communities for support ∞ Endlessly adaptable.

Drupal vs. Joomla

• Debates rage across the internet.

• Both are working on becoming increasingly user-friendly.

• Both have great communities.

• Drupal is often said to be more secure.

• Joomla is said to be more user friendly.

I <3 Drupal

∞ In 2009, the ALA Techsource posted a blog entry asking ‘Can Libraries Rock Drupal’ ∞My answer? Yes. Yes, we can.

∞It helps to know HTML. ∞And have a little bit of patience.

Our Drupal Site

Drupal Mechnics

∞Modules ∞Blocks ∞Menus ∞Blogging with WYSIWYG

Other Libraries with Drupal

∞New York Public Library (http://www.nypl.org/)

∞Denver Public Library (http://denverlibrary.org/)

∞Homewood Public Library (http://homewoodpubliclibrary.org)

∞Kinderhook Public Library (http://www.oklibrary.org/)

Joomla!

Libraries Using Joomla!

∞Dekalb County Library (http://www.dekalblibrary.org/)

∞Greene County Library (http://www.greenelibrary.info/)

∞Tyngsboroguh Public Library (http://www.tynglib.org/)

Bonus Tip: Graphic Design

You can be a Graphic Designer

∞Can’t afford Photoshop? Download GIMP, an open source picture editor. ∞Or use the new picture editing options in

Microsoft Office 2007 or later. ∞Check with your vendors for copyright

on cover art. ∞Go to dafont.com to download lots of

great free fonts.

Questions

These slides will be available on my website:

Learnitforyou.com/presentations

Feel free to e-mail me with any questions at vreynolds@rcls.org

Thank you!