Web Page Redesign
The Libraries rolled out www.infodepot.org around the Spring of 1998. The effort to build infodepot was accomplished by a dedicated team of staff members. Using Frontpage and taking advice from other libraries, infodepot made it to the web. We saw immediate use.
Our new site became the home for all kinds of information. The challenge for us was to determine what information was useful and necessary. As you can imagine everyone had their own ideas.
As the Coordinator of Development, I had the role of updating the calendar and the homepage as well as constructing several pages. It was interesting to hear from the community their perspective on infodepot. Patrons loved the pictures, the databases, the calendar of events, the library history, etc.
As time went on...infodepot became tired. In an effort to improve our presence, the site was redesigned by Susan Grimley, director of branch services, prior to her retirement in April 2003. The new design gave the site a fresher look. Over three years have passed since Susan's redesign.
We knew that infodepot was an asset to researchers and to patrons looking for library related information. Further, we also knew that information architecture as well as a "clean" look was important to enhancing our web based services.
In 2005, I asked Jennifer Land to take on the total redesign of infodepot. Jennifer pulled together staff, developed a well organized plan, and began the slow process of rebuilding infodepot. Not an easy assignment.
Like the construction of any complex building, numerous staff have spent time with infodepot. This has been a collective effort.
During the 2006 budget process, the Trustees approved the position of a web services librarian. This was critical. If we are to experience further growth in our web based services, including digitization of historical documents, then we needed to have a staff member focused on the day to day operations of infodepot.
I am hopeful that our broader community and our traditional library patrons will use the new infodepot as a way to enhance their library experience.
So, where is this all going? Over the next several months Jennifer will have the opportunity to bring some of the design aspects to closure. We will focus on our digital collection which includes the Willis photographs, maps of Spartanburg, and documents from Camps Croft and Wadsworth.
We will seek out new and better ways to provide web based services.
Infodepot has served us well. I am still taken aback when I have someone say, "You have one of the best web sites....I use it all the time." In the end, patrons just want to find what they are looking for.
I am excited about the future of infodepot. Please contact Jennifer (jenniferl@infodepot.org) or me if you have suggestions or ideas on how we may continue to improve infodepot.
Our new site became the home for all kinds of information. The challenge for us was to determine what information was useful and necessary. As you can imagine everyone had their own ideas.
As the Coordinator of Development, I had the role of updating the calendar and the homepage as well as constructing several pages. It was interesting to hear from the community their perspective on infodepot. Patrons loved the pictures, the databases, the calendar of events, the library history, etc.
As time went on...infodepot became tired. In an effort to improve our presence, the site was redesigned by Susan Grimley, director of branch services, prior to her retirement in April 2003. The new design gave the site a fresher look. Over three years have passed since Susan's redesign.
We knew that infodepot was an asset to researchers and to patrons looking for library related information. Further, we also knew that information architecture as well as a "clean" look was important to enhancing our web based services.
In 2005, I asked Jennifer Land to take on the total redesign of infodepot. Jennifer pulled together staff, developed a well organized plan, and began the slow process of rebuilding infodepot. Not an easy assignment.
Like the construction of any complex building, numerous staff have spent time with infodepot. This has been a collective effort.
During the 2006 budget process, the Trustees approved the position of a web services librarian. This was critical. If we are to experience further growth in our web based services, including digitization of historical documents, then we needed to have a staff member focused on the day to day operations of infodepot.
I am hopeful that our broader community and our traditional library patrons will use the new infodepot as a way to enhance their library experience.
So, where is this all going? Over the next several months Jennifer will have the opportunity to bring some of the design aspects to closure. We will focus on our digital collection which includes the Willis photographs, maps of Spartanburg, and documents from Camps Croft and Wadsworth.
We will seek out new and better ways to provide web based services.
Infodepot has served us well. I am still taken aback when I have someone say, "You have one of the best web sites....I use it all the time." In the end, patrons just want to find what they are looking for.
I am excited about the future of infodepot. Please contact Jennifer (jenniferl@infodepot.org) or me if you have suggestions or ideas on how we may continue to improve infodepot.
posted by Todd at 8:21 PM
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