1. Dynamic by Design
Or, the Story of How (and Why) I Built a Content
Management System for the Lowcountry Digital Library

2. MyAdmin Control Panel

3. What is MyAdmin?
• Dynamic content management system
• Designed to manage the workflow of the
Lowcountry Digital Library web site
• Tool to foster collaboration and encourage
direct participation from partners

4. What is MyAdmin?
• XHTML, PHP, and
MySQL framework
• XHTML and PHP display
and control user input
• MySQL database stores
user input

5. Why Use MyAdmin?

6. To Meet Needs!

7. (and to make web developers happier)

8. Four Key Needs
• Centrality
• Usability
• Accessibility
• Sustainability

9. Centrality
• One system to manage all content
dynamically - changes affect multiple pages
• Multiple users only change content, with no
code editing necessary
• frees developers to work on other projects
and keeps the code sanitized

10. Usability
• Intuitive user interface (UI) to easily
create, edit, or delete collection
information
• Forms instead of lines of code
• Instantly create collection level web pages

11. Accessibility
• System is available online
• Multiple users
• LCDL staff and partners can access the
system remotely

12. Sustainability
• Built on a dynamic framework using open
source and free technologies
• Uses best web practices and standards
• Designed for cross-platform migration

13. Showcase

14. Takeaways
• Instilled background in workflow and
project management practices
• Demonstrated ability to use innovative
technologies for practical purposes
• Developed spirit of collaboration

15. Thanks for Listening!
Christopher G.Vinson
Head of Library Systems
College of Charleston Libraries
Charleston, South Carolina
vinsonc@cofc.edu