Creating
Library Website Using Open Source Content Management System
Deepak
Sankar A
Kairali
TV (Malayalam Communications Limited)
Thiruvananthapuram
- 695 034
Vimal
Kumar V
Asian
School of Business, Techno Park Campus
Thiruvananthapuram - 695
581
Abstract.
Library website is considered as communication tool,
which help to create and publish the information regarding its activities and
services. Creation and maintenance of an interactive library website consumes
technical expertise, money and time. And maintenance of library website in
traditional way also creates problems for library staff with little technical
expertise. Content management systems (CMS) are computer software systems for
organizing, displaying and facilitating collaborative creation of content. They
consist of readymade functions and modules for manage and organize website
content. Using content management system library professionals can create and
update the website concentrate on the content and do not have to care about the
layout. This paper checks the scope of content management system for the
building of library website.
Keywords
Content Development Tools and
Techniques, Content Management System.
Introduction
Online publication has now become easy than before with
the advent of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), especially with
the popular use of World Wide Web. Information and Communication Technology
also persuade to change the way of information professional’s work. Library
websites are becoming the place for content creation and publication. Major
libraries are setting up their website as portal for all services and using as
a marketing tool to attract users. Library users value timely dissemination of
information about library activities and services through library websites.
Creation and maintenance of dynamic website content makes an enormous challenge
before information professionals and library authorities, it needs money and
professional manpower. Compared with the traditional website development, open
source content management systems are truly feasible in terms of functionality,
cost and maintenance.
Issues related to the development of library websites
The library website can be used as a platform for a
number of activities. It can act as a bulletin of the various events the
library organizes, the host of services it offers to its patrons, an
interactive catalogue-say of the books collection, a periodical list of
additions, an array of pointers to other useful sites, etc (Sreekumar,
2006).Library websites contents must be dynamic in nature. Constant updates of
website content are required to report about ongoing library activities.
Without a user friendly interface for content upload to traditional website
prevent constant updates in the content. Content creators either have knowledge
of HTML tags or need the help from website administrator to publish the content
on time. Karen A. Coombs, Head of Web Services, University of Houston (UH)
Libraries explains the reasons that reshaped their library website to more
dynamic in nature: “all content was passed through the Web services department
before becoming part of the site. As a result, making updates was a
time-consuming task and significant portions of the site were out-of-date. In
addition, the site’s structure was rigid and inflexible and provided no space
for staff or users to participate. An informal needs assessment revealed that
staff members wanted to control their own content and to have a way to make the
site more engaging and interesting to their users”(Coombs, 2007). New
generation website development gives more importance to interactivity with
users. Following facility makes the website content more dynamic, user centered
and Web 2.0 compliant:
Blogs
RSS
feeds
Discussion
forum
Surveys
Wikis
Podcasts etc.
Development of an interactive and web 2.0 featured
website development requires more time, technical expertise and investment of
money. Static websites have no facility to encourage collaborative content
development. An ideal new generation library website does the following (Cohen,
2006):
1) Users participate in creating resource lists in the
subject areas of their research.
2) Users contribute to research tips created by
instruction of reference librarians
3) Users add to technical instructions for such
activities as off campus access, use of end Note, using the library's printers,
tips on working with workstation software, etc.
4) Users comment on library services using the blogs
linked to the pages of major services, e.g., reference, interlibrary loan,
circulation, reserves, online catalog, Web site, general technology, physical
plant, etc.
A
Web site with this type of configuration - based on both Wikis and blogs would
be far different from the typical sites that libraries maintain
Open Source Content Management System
A content management system (CMS) is a computer software
system used to assist its users in the process of content management. A CMS
facilitates the organization, control and publication of a large body of
documents and other content, such as images and multimedia resources. A CMS
often facilitates the collaborative creation of documents. A web content
management system is a content management system with additional features to
ease the tasks required to publish web content to Web sites (Wikipedia,2007).
Content management systems are extensively used to build websites, portals and
intranets in business, educational, and non-profit organizations. The following
benefits are available with content management systems :(Okes, 2006)
1) Create and publish content in a standard format
without needing to know HTML or other languages
2) Co-ordinate the work of teams of authors and editors
(e.g. by ensuring that only one person is editing any individual content item
at any one time)
3) Control the branding and quality of content (e.g. by
ensuring that the correct style sheets are applied, and that changes to the
content are approved before they are published)
4) Reuse the same content item in multiple different
sites and formats.
Open source content management systems are the result of
open source software movement. It conceptualised the open source values and
principles in the development of content management system. Open source
software provides a new feeling of optimism among users and software developers
about free use and exchange of software. It encourages user’s freedom to run,
copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. The freedom to use a
program means the freedom for any kind of person or organization to use it on
any kind of computer system, for any kind of overall job, and without being
required to communicate subsequently with the developer or any other specific
entity (Free Software Foundation, 2005). Open source software model ensures
community participation in software development at most important for the
general well being of our society. Most of the open source content management
systems are available free of cost and can compete with commercial
alternatives.
Scope of Content Management System in Library
Website development
Updates or creation of the content by editing HTML tags
expects some knowledge of mark-up and CGI scripting language. Errors on HTML
tags occurred at the time of updating the web page may distort the content of
web page. User-friendly interface can ensure accuracy and save time lag between
content creation and publication. Information professionals without technical
know-how necessitate a user friendly interface to push the information content
on library website. Content Management Systems provide web based user interface
to upload the information on website. Content creators can easily manage and
deploy text, audio, video and other types of
documents in digital format (PDF, RTF, ppt, doc, etc)
with the help of simple content upload interface. In addition content
management systems give simultaneous access for content developers from various
locations. This feature is helpful in the case of libraries with branches or
departments active in different activities. Content Management Systems help
information professionals to manage website content concentrating its accuracy
and value without thinking about technical aspects.
Selection, installation and maintenance of content management system
Selection from over 100 open source content management
system is a complex process. Choosing a content management system is now about
checking the features that each offer against what you want to do, and picking
the one that provides the best fit (Oake, 2006). Open source content management
system can download freely from software websites and this enables the users to
try the software before implement in the working environment Content management
systems use various programming and technology such as PHP, ASP, PERL, Python
and Java. Databases supporting are MySQL, Postgre and Oracle with Windows or
Linux. Most popular content management systems developed on
PHP-MySQL-Windows/Linux platform. PHP is a popular open-source programming
language used for developing server-side applications and dynamic web content.
Configuration and installation of PHP based content management systems requires
only minimum technical knowledge. Popular PHP-MySQL based content
Management systems are:
Joomla
Mambo
PhpNuke
PostNuke
Drupal
TYPO3
All these open source content management systems are
powerful, multifunctional and can be used to develop websites, intranet and
portals. In addition, a range of extra modules and functional components with
user-friendly control panel are available with them. Community based software
projects of the open source content management system ensures strong user
support and active development status. A content management system runs on the
platform of web server (e.g. Apache) and content stored in a relational
database system (e.g. MySQL). Administration and public interface for users are
the two available interfaces of a content management system. Both interfaces
can be access through a web browser.
Installation of content management system alone does not
make the system ready to use. After installation of content management system,
new design to site and creation of forms and workflows for content entry is
necessary. Customisation of the existing design of content management system is
good to keep the brand design of library. This can be done by editing CSS
(Cascading style sheet) base graphics templates. Definition of work flows and
forms suitable for the needs of library is a pre-requisite for content input
and publication by writers and editors of website.
Administrators and content creators are the persons
responsible for making the content management system live in an organization.
Administrator of content management system is responsible for maintenance,
customisation, creating user accounts and privileges. Content creators submit
the content to the system and the administrator accepts or rejects the
document. The accepted content is published through the content management
system and users can view the content in website. Content management systems
are not free from disadvantages. Content management systems require initial
investment on technical help and dedicated server. Technical help is critical
to personalize the graphical design and workflow generation. Content management
system is effective in an environment where regular update of website content.
Conclusions
The technologies exist to make library sites a joint
venture, in which librarians and their constituencies work together to create
an online presence that hears voices from both sides of the fence. In a way,
this type of site would remove most of the fence (Kohen, 2006). Open source
content management systems are most convenient and cheaper solutions to build
functional library websites. Most care and concern must be given while
selecting an open source content management system suitable for your
organizational requirements to develop a website. The main advantage of content
management system over traditional website development is that, it ensures
seamless website content input and updating making use collaboration
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