CMSreORG

The CMSreORG project combines two projects in one. It is a re-evaluation of our current web authoring methods with the view of adopting a Content Management System (CMS). It is also, more importantly, a re-organization (reORG) of the current website, exploring how it can be best shaped to allow our diverse user audience to get the most out of the web services delivered by the Library.

The Library is currently considering adopting Rhythmyx, the college’s CMS, hosted by Corporate Affairs. Should it be adopted, it will help library staff to manage content reduplicated in many pages across the site. Also, content can be quickly ‘re-purposed’ in different formats. For instance, this article, once entered into the CMS, could output to the bulletin, an item on a news page and into a news archive. It will replace Dreamweaver as a web-authoring tool, offering an easier method of authoring that requires no HTML experience. Expirery dates can be set to allow staff to monitor their pages more effectively and allow for a scheduled method for delivering news and RSS. When it comes to creating page content, Rhythmyx will allow e-services to set up a more structured ‘work-flow’ by assigning particular roles to library staff.

These advantages are met by challenges that will require technical experimentation and ongoing communication with the vendors, who market Rhythmyx as adaptable ‘enterprise’ software aimed at Higher Education. It is undecided how Rhythmyx will allow us to integrate our dynamic web services, such as the Catalogue and MetaLib. It is unclear if it will be ‘future-compatible’ with Vertical Search products, like Ex-Libris’ Primo, which are more concerned with bringing together and delivering remote and local resources in a single search than managing local content. Taking into account these challenges, we aim to make a decision on Rhythmyx within the next month after staff consultation.

While contemplating how to improve web-authoring for staff, we are simultaneously getting to grips with the requirements of our website audience. We aim, as the shortly to be published Project Initiation Document will specify, “to adopt a more user centred approach to the navigation and the structure of our website”. Almost every aspect of how we present library web services with regards to content, look and feel and accessibility are within the scope for change.

Central to this project is a working group, whose main task is to call together key staff members for consultation as issues arise within the project schedule. However, this is fundamentally a user driven project. We will soon be hosting user feedback evaluation sessions to determine whether our current notions and perceived problems with regard to the site are on the right track. We are also considering the engagement of a specialist consultant to produce a neutral and expert view of our services and requirements.