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

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

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Step 3: Choose a CMS
Content Management System
∞ Wordpress
∞ Drupal
∞ Joomla
∞ Other, smaller, online options.

7. 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.

14. 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 .

16. Wordpress Dashboard

17. Manage Themes

18. Spring for Custom Themes

19. Or Edit Existing Ones

20. 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

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. Our Drupal Site

25. Drupal Mechnics
∞ Modules
∞ Blocks
∞ Menus
∞ Blogging with WYSIWYG

26. 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/)

27. Joomla!

28. Libraries Using Joomla!
∞ Dekalb County Library
(http://www.dekalblibrary.org/)
∞ Greene County Library
(http://www.greenelibrary.info/)
∞ Tyngsboroguh Public Library
(http://www.tynglib.org/)

29. Bonus Tip: Graphic Design

31. 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.

32. 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!