Allan Gray, NORWELD Executive Director

 

As a result of attending technology based conferences and classes, NORWELD IT coordinator Bill Hardison verified a need for the regional to provide an environment where member libraries could readily take advantage of Web 2.0 strategies and tools. To satisfy this need, it was determined that an easy to use Content Management System (CMS) would need to be utilized. After researching a variety of options, Drupal was chosen as the platform. Drupal is an open source web site publishing framework, distributed under the GPL (“General Public License”) that allows easy publishing, managing and organizing of a wide range of content.

 

One of the first tasks was to educate people on what a CMS is and why we chose Drupal. He developed an online video tutorial called "What is CMS?" which can be found on the NORWELD website and at WebJunction. Once the word had spread, Drupal user training was required. Bill has conducted three beginning Drupal user classes and is planning to offer more. He is also working on topics for a second level users’ class possibly for mid-fall. He has begun the process of transitioning nearly 50 non-Web 2.0 library websites to the new Drupal CMS. Currently, nearly 40% of NORWELD member library websites have started the Drupal transition. Six sites are live and their old sites deactivated. Another four sites are complete and pending review. Finally, there are nine other sites in transition and three awaiting site creation.

 

In addition, NORWELD, in cooperation with seven of its member libraries, has created a "web exhibit" about World War II that's been excerpted from over 140 oral history interviews conducted in the region. After completing a number of interviews with local citizens and World War II veterans, Barbara Ruland videotaped a series of 20 minute interviews over a two day weekend with the residents of Sherwood, Ohio at their annual festival. The four DVDs that were produced were later copied and sold by the Sherwood Friends of the Library as a fundraiser. We are now working on a similar project with the Huron Public Library.

 

As has unfortunately happened on several occasions, one of the gentlemen interviewed for the series passed away within months of his interview. His daughter, however, was so pleased with the fact that the librarian and her staff had conducted the interview that she asked that memorials in her father's memory be directed to the library.