Our New Website Launch: San Jose Public Library
The new website for the San Jose Public Library has finally launched!
You can see the site at SJPL.org.
The major changes that this new site represent:
- a new URL, sjpl.org
- a split from the combined website we previously had (with the SJSU Library)
- a new design, created by our web librarian Nate Hill
- new site content
- new information architecture
- new content management system (Drupal)
- a new way for staff to update content directly through a customized, simplified WYSIWYG editor
So you know…it’s not like it was a huge project or anything.
Other significant highlights of the site:
- Every single staff member at SJPL has been asked and empowered to create blog posts for the new site. That means everyone. No limiting by classification, specialization, or degree-holding nonsense. We’re all smart. We all have things we know about and want to share with our library users. We currently have over 300 staff set up to create content and I couldn’t be happier.
- Content is not pre-moderated by any web staff. When staff click “Save,” it goes up. And rightly so.
- We offer commenting as a function on almost every part of our site, and user comments are not pre-moderated either. Again, rightly so.
- We strove for minimalism and simplicity in both design and content whenever possible.
- We don’t use the words “database” or “OPAC.” We chose words that our users actually told us they wanted us to use.
- We are making heavy use of RSS feed content. Take our branch library webpages as an example, e.g. West Valley. You’ve got RSS populating the next upcoming events, the blog posts from the staff, and the newest items in that branch library’s collection. Go dynamic content!
This launch is the culmination of a three year project. I want to thank the current members of the Digital Futures web team (Tim Reif, Hilary Langhorst, Nate Hill, and Robert Sese) for busting their rear ends to see this thing through. I know I bribed you with food and caffeine on occasion, but hey–a manager’s got to have her tricks. Every ounce of energy we possess has gone into this project, and it is beyond satisfying to see it go live.
There will be more changes and enhancements in the days and months ahead, but for now – a *deep* sigh of relief. And a beer. Or two.
Well said.
November 15th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Sarah Houghton-Jan, WPL Reference Div and Michael McCulley, Ivonnette. Ivonnette said: RT @TheLiB: New post on Librarian in Black the new San Jose Public Library website (http://sjpl.org): http://bit.ly/cxl4z1 [...]
November 16th, 2010 at 12:34 am
This is absolutely beautiful.
November 16th, 2010 at 10:53 am
Nice!
I also see you’re using Drupal =)
Sad to say, though, still the same’ol III WebOPAC. Hope you can “correct” that soon (check out the Millennium Integration Drupal module … *wink wink*) http://drupal.org/project/millennium
November 16th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Thanks Marianne!
And Alejandro – Yes, Drupal. Whoo hoo! The Millennium Integration Drupal module is not the complete answer. We would have to create and install SOPAC (http://thesocialopac.net/), which would be lovely. It’s not like flipping a switch….but rather a seriously staff intensive project, especially considering that we need interfaces in 4 languages. I am working toward that goal, though the next several months’ staff time are already spoken for with other strategic planning priorities… But we’re looking at it for sure!
November 16th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
You rock, Sarah! Congrats to you, your team, and your entire library on the exciting new site.
November 17th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Very nice! You’re giving me inspiration for our library website redesign, which we’re doing on a shoestring budget. Can I ask, what are you linking to under Books & Media >What to Read Now (Novelist)? Just the Novelist databases, or a page within it?
November 17th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Freaking fantastic. I was gushing about it yesterday and didn’t realize the connection to you.
November 18th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
OMG! This really is fantastic! Great job!
November 19th, 2010 at 5:23 pm
[...] Sarah Houghton-John, the Digital Futures manager at SJPL talks about the project at her blog Librarian in Black. And of course, links to the new site. [...]
November 30th, 2010 at 3:35 pm
Every single staff member at SJPL has been asked and empowered to create blog posts for the new site. That means everyone. No limiting by classification, specialization, or degree-holding nonsense. We’re all smart. We all have things we know about and want to share with our library users.
It’s so refreshing to find this attitude and it saddens me that in the spirit of sharing information and knowledge this kind of attitude isn’t more prevalent. It’s not true for all libraries, but certainly in the place where I work there is a distinctly patronising attitude towards non-qualified staff and they would certainly never be trusted with un-moderated contributions. I hope people learn from your example.
The website looks great.
December 6th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
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December 10th, 2010 at 11:25 am
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January 6th, 2011 at 2:45 am
Wonderful posting I found at typepad.com I keep on reading this attractive blog.
January 21st, 2011 at 1:40 pm
Great website and definitely an inspiration for others. I am curious though, why would you need Drupal modules III and SOPAC?
I was also wondering if you figured out a ‘homegrown’ link resolver solution? I have been investigating GODOT and others, but none of them will auto log users into databases that do not use IP authentication. This is the issue I am having in my very small medical library. I need a system like EBSCO’s A-Z or Serials Solutions or EZProxy … but homegrown or open source. Do you know of any?
Again, great results. Check the page in Chrome though, because I noticed several differences when accessing in IE vs Chrome.
~Alisha
January 21st, 2011 at 6:27 pm
@Alisha: If we want SOPAC (a Drupal-based open source catalog solution) to be integrated with our website and to replace the publicly visible catalog interface (currently the default native III Millennium interface), then you need to install and implement both the Millennium module and SOPAC separately.
I have not heard (that I remember) of any homegrown link resolvers, but perhaps someone else has.
There are differences with our new website between browsers — almost all websites show differences of some kind. We made sure it worked, was laid out well, and was ADA compliant in all browsers. That’s what mattered most
March 14th, 2011 at 1:06 pm
[...] November 2010, the San Jose Public Library launched a brand new website. While the Librarian in Black does a great job summarizing the main features of the site, it is important to highlight the main [...]
April 7th, 2012 at 5:21 pm
[...] and empower people with the Empower Network Cynthia Chebultz http://www.SocialCowgirl.com Here I sit … still at Walt Disney World in Florida a week later, working behind the scenes with …c launch … literally round the clock, taking naps and not really going to sleep, repeatedly [...]
March 17th, 2013 at 5:42 pm
Hello, I am at the MLK library bookstore on Sunday. I was here trying to locate Hilary, in case I need help, Thankyou clinton