Devin Burr itt, MLIS

Jackson Memorial L ibrarywww.jacksonmemorial l ibrary.org

EASY WEB TECH FOR TECHNOPHOBES

OBJECTIVES

Understand how a CMS system can make administering a website easier

Understand how embed codes can help you put things on your webpage

Some options for embedding slideshowsSome options for embedding videosSome options for embedding formsOther useful things to embed in your website

OBJECTIVES

What can you actually DO at your website? Can you do most of the the real “stuff ” that your library off ers as activities?—David Lee K ing, Digi ta l Branch and Serv ices Manager Topeka and Shawnee County Publ ic L ibrary, and Al l Around Br i l l iant Dude

WHAT CAN YOU DO ON YOUR WEBSITE

DOMAIN NAMES

Domain names and domain name forwarding provides a cheap and easy way to access your website.

Domain names are available from a number of sources Godaddy.com Google Apps Affi liates Many Others

They are aff ordable ranging from $7.50-$20.00/YearA complicated URL like:

www.jacksonmem.lib.me.us/index.htmlCan become something more intuitive to patrons like:www.jacksonmemoriallibrary.org, or even www.jml.org

(if available)

DOMAIN NAMES

CONTENT MANAGEMENT

SYSTEMS

CM Systems are diffi culty to set up, but make administering a website exceedingly convenient. If there is no full time web designer/graphic artist on staff I

would highly recommend a CM system.

CM SYSTEMS

Great book by ALA TechsourceDrupal is our CM system for the JML website

Lets you “modules” to enhance the content of the site. We run blocks, menus, and a blog module. All of which help

shape how our site feels.

Home Wood Library Jackson Memorial Library Keene Public Library New Hampshire Simon Fraser University Library

DRUPAL

Another CM SystemBook by ALA about using wordpress as a CMS. Used by

University of Maine BU International Programs

WORDPRESS

EMBED CODES

A code that can be generated from a website to insert their application/slideshow/video etc. into your website.

People, much smarter than me, have come up with very simple ways to create really cool content on the web such as forms, slideshows, videos, chat applets, etc. After you create your content in their easy to use editors they will generate this code, which you can copy and past into your website, to transfer whatever you designed into a functional copy on your site.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE CODE. If you need to alter anything just look for things you do know like “Length, Width, Color” etc. If all else fails Google it!

EMBED CODES

PHOTO SLIDESHOWS

Google’s Photo ToolCan be downloaded or accessed via the webWe use it all via the web.Access the website: https://

picasaweb.google.com/homeSign in with your google account. If you don’t have

one, they are free!From the landing page upload your photographsEdit Album Properties so Everyone Can ViewEmbed Slideshow from right columnSelect SlideShow Size

PICASSA

Copy and Paste Embed Code into your websiteHint: Google will not let you change the background

color from black. If you look in the code for RGB= you can replace 0x00000 with whatever color you want. You can google ‘HTML COLORS” or download software that will generate color codes for you

PICASSA

Login(can login with Yahoo, Google, or Facebook)Upload ImagesCreate New SetView Sideshow

Can edit for more options Copy and Paste Embed Code Into Website

FLICKR

VIDEOS

Videos can add a nice dimension to your website. We occasionally include them on our front page posts.

Websites to upload to: Youtube Vimeo Jing

VIDEOS

FORMS

Accessible from Google DocsGood for creating forms that fi le into a spreadsheet

Event Signups Surveys

GOOGLE FORMS

Good for registration, highly customizable. We use for Library Card Signup, ILL Requests, and Patron Book Request. Website allows up to five free forms.

Very User Friendlyhttp://www.emailmeform.com/

E-MAIL ME FORMS

OTHER

A chat application that loads into your siteGood for virtual reference transactionshttp://www.meebome.com/

MEEBO

Available from Google.Great for directions to the library, parking, local

spots, etc.

GOOGLE MAPS