Running A Public Library Website

A workshop organised by UKOLN in association with EARL
Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 November 1999
University of Bath

A report about the workshop is available.

As one of the outcomes of this workshop a discussion list (lis-pub-web) has been set up and funded by UKOLN to allow public library website managers to share experiences and advice about developing websites for public library authorities.

Presentations

The People's Network: the Final Frontier?  – Chris Batt, Chief Network Adviser (LIC)
What should be included on the public library website? What could the public library site be used for – is there more to it than opening hours and catalogues?

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: style and design in website creation –Chris Webster, Information Officer (EARL)
What is good web design? What are the key design rules which should never be broken? How can you make sure that your site is accessible to all users?

Successful Library Website Case Studies
Speakers from three Local Authorities will share tips, hints and learning experiences about how they put together their websites and the issues and problems that they had to overcome. A chance to learn from other people’s experiences.

• East Sussex – Elaine Jewell, Head of Information Services  (East Sussex Libraries and Arts Service)
• Suffolk – Simon Ransome, ISIS Project Manager (Suffolk County Council)
• Croydon –  Heather Kirby, Head of Reference and Information Services (Croydon Library Service)

A Quick Intro to Metadata – Michael Day, Research Office (UKOLN)
What is metadata and why you should have it on  your website.

Trials and Tribulations of a Web Manager - breakout groups
An opportunity to share experiences, identify common issues and problems and work out collectively how to overcome them.

From Homepage to FrontPage – Patris van Boxel, Trainer (Netskills)
A discussion of the progression from producing simple web pages using text editors to using site management tools to create and maintain large multi-author web sites

A Toolbox for website maintenance – Manjula Patel, Technical Development Research Officer (UKOLN)
What tools are available for you to use in keeping your website up to date and manageable – how can things like stylesheets help.

If I Could Start All Over Again: Lessons To be Learnt From The HE Community - Brian Kelly, UK Web Focus  (UKOLN)
What’s going to happen to the web next and how easily can you integrate these new developments into your website and how to learn from the mistakes of the Higher Education community.