Seven Years Later...

Exactly seven years ago today, we launched Columbus Metro Library's (CML's) first database driven website. I did most of the coding for the site, as well as the database logic. I was the sole web staff for the large metro system. A lot has changed in seven years.

1. On Staffing... Libraries have (finally!!!) recognized the importance of staffing for the web, and are hiring not only webmasters, but web content librarians, and even digital strategists (congrats to Helene Blowers on her new post at CML). CML has a team of programmers, designers, content librarians to support the site. Across town at the much smaller Westerville Library, we just hired our first Web Content Librarian and are in the process of outlining big changes to our web sites. Yeah!

2. On Community... Customers are providing content! In those early days, library staff not only produced all of the content, they were afraid to open the doors to customer-generated content. It's all about building online community today, and the doors are wide open as customers provide interactive content on many library web sites across the country. This is such an important shift in library web sites, and builds on what the very first public library reading rooms established way back in the late 1800's ... COMMUNITY!

3. On Technology... Solid content management systems (CMS) exist today reducing programming time and increasing the possibilities ten-fold. That first database-driven web site was produced in Cold Fusion and required tedious work in building content management forms for staff content. Today, libraries are using Drupal and other tools to expedite development and stay current with new trends. Cleveland Public Library just launched their new site built with Drupal. I wouldn't dream of approaching a web development project today without at least strongly looking at the CMS market.

4. On a Personal note... I couldn't code a web site if I tried. A shift to management does that to a person. We lose those technical skills. ;-)

Wonder what the next seven years will have in store for us? I'm betting on the biggest changes to unfold in the areas of digital rights management paving the way to full digital delivery of materials.