Using a CMS

After having the opportunity to create my own website using CMS (content management system) technology, I had the opportunity to interview a library director using a CMS for the first time. As many of my readers already know, I used a CMS called Joomla!, hosted by SiteGroud, to create a mock website for my Applied Technology class. The librarian I interviewed for my latest assignment wishes to remain anonymous, but his/her library has recently launched a new website hosted by a small, local web hosting and design company called Novare Library Services.

So, Novare hosts the website, but Wordpress is the CMS behind it, which seems much simpler than Joomla! Many Wordpress users might think of it as only a blog. However, according to Wordpress.org, it “has evolved to be used as a full content management system . . . through the thousands of plugins and widgets and themes.” Novare Library Services, as the host, works with libraries, but also offers web design services to small businesses. Since Novare is a small, privately owned company, their web development and IT services are affordable for institutions with a smaller budget.  Services offered include the following: website design and management, mobile page and app development, custom programming, and training for staff and users.  

Before I get further into what was discussed during the interview, let me tell you a little bit more about the library that I was working with. The library director wishes to remain anonymous, but I can tell you he/she is the director of a public library system in the South. This public library system is made up of five branches, serving a county of over 75,000 residents. However, any state resident may own a library card, and out-of-state visitors may own a card for a fee, so the library serves many patrons spread out past the local community. The library’s new and improved Novare hosted CMS was introduced to the public earlier this spring.

The director of the library was not familiar with the term “content management system” before the interview. However, after giving a brief definition of CMSs and how they are being utilized by libraries around the world, the director said he/she had in fact adopted a CMS to manage the new website. After some digging online, we confirmed this. Before deciding to work with Novare, the library had been in need of a new website, and had begun looking at the work of various web design companies. The library’s primary concerns were the “look” and the cost when deciding which host company to work with. The director knew the president of Novare, a librarian, from other projects and collaborations, but Novare still went through the process of making a presentation and offering a price bid, as did several other companies that the library considered. Novare offered the lowest price bid, including six training sessions for library employees on how to use the CMS. Novare collaborated with the director on the original design and development of the new website. With training and design complete, the library continues to pay Novare to host the website, and maintenance and support are provided as needed, which is included in the cost. 

Since the implementation of the new website, the library director and other librarians have been very happy with the finished product. The director has allowed five other professional librarians authority to edit and manage the site as well. The librarians and director may edit various aspects of the site as needed at different times. To guarantee that content is appropriate, and that the site maintains a uniform look, the librarians follow a set of guidelines regarding design, but certain individual posts still need to be approved. For instance, certain calendar events and flyers need to be approved by the director or assistant director, primarily to ensure that proper credit is given to event participants or supporters. Aside from these stipulations, librarians are able to post and edit content as needed.

Before adopting the new CMS system, the library used Civic Plus, a web design company for local government. While Civic Plus does professional, aesthetically pleasing work, the cost and lack of freedom was not ideal for the library I interviewed. With the old company, all changes to the website, even routine calendar updates, had to be done by the web designer. Each and every change had to be paid for by the library’s budget. This set up quickly became very expensive and resulted in a static, rarely changing website. Now, the director is happier using a CMS because the library controls the flexibility of the website, the site is continuously changing and evolving as needed, and the librarians themselves know exactly when and how the website will be changed. They are no longer at the mercy of a web design team’s time. Furthermore, the director has been very pleased with the attention gained from working with a small company like Novare.

To learn more about using Novare to host your library or small business website, check out their website. Also, make sure to look into the benefits of using Wordpress as your library’s CMS.