[Publib] Website Design

[Robert L. Balliot]

No,

The CMS process is a mystery to most library staff.
I would say that Joomla and Drupal are terms that
most upper level admins. could not define independent of 
their context.  Most librarians do not work with
linux.  And, while all of these things may be great
next products, they basically create further dependence
on IT departments to design them and administer.

At one time, the next best thing was a juke box
player that could read CD databases on a LAN - very
expensive to set up and basically the exclusive domain of
the network administrator.  Without a network 
administrator, how do you have the next best thing -
hire a consultant and outsource.  Or, you subscribe
to services that are available on-line and work
on bandwidth to make it available.

When the Gates computer grants were being distributed
in RI, the libraries with the bigger budgets opted
for the cash instead of the system.  I did not and
set up our system so that it did not require a network
administrator and provided services and features
not available at the bigger libraries. We had
different paradigms.  Since I was a director and
the network administrator, I had no interest in
being indispensable.  I used the process developed
by Gates Foundation to serve the library interest,
rather than a self interest.

*************************************************
Join: http://gotbooks.ning.com/
Robert L. Balliot
1-401-441-5763
Skype: RBalliot
Bristol, Rhode Island
http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm
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With a CMS, the site structure would not have to be changed. That's one 
of the nice things about the CMS. The users log in to their accounts and 
do what they need to do. If you're referring to changing the general 
layout of the website, well that's a theme that can be easily installed. 
There are literally thousands of free templates out there and I'd be 
willing to bet that any library could find a theme to suit their needs. 
What I like best about Joomla is that it's open source so even if I 
weren't here to do back end work, whomever would replace me could easily 
find the resources they would need to accomplish this without me.

I don't disagree with your point of view because it's just as valid as 
mine. If your solution works best for your system then that's what you 
need to do. :)
-- 
Allen D. Tate
Head of Computer Services
Ohio Township Public Library System
4111 Lakeshore Dr
PO Box 850
Newburgh, IN 47629
(812) 853-5468 x 313

http://www.ohio.lib.in.us/ (Library Home Page)
http://www.linuxinlibraries.com/ (Linux In Libraries)

The views expressed in this message are not necessarily
those of the Ohio Township Public Library System.