Library Web Management
Introduction
Many of the Library’s resources Web-based, and our site is often a users’ first stop
for the resources and services we provide. To ensure the quality, usefulness, and
timeliness of our Website, and that our presence moves forward in a cohesive and
comprehensive manner, we have developed this policy and will continue to document
procedures, and training for Library staff to support our decentralized Web
environment.
Web management software:
The Library currently uses a combination of shareware (free) and licensed Web
management tools. Management tasks include:
Usage Statistics software
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Webtrends: UMBC-licensed product. Generated stats for the main page, which
currently resides on umbc7. These stats are available from 10/02 to 12/02.
Analog: The Library runs this shareware stats generator on its server
(aok.lib.umbc.edu). OIT has configured Analog to process stats for the
Library’s main page and for E-Reserves.
All stats are linked from http://aok.lib.umbc.edu/webmgt/.
Link Checking software
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Xenu: This shareware reports 404 and other errors. It will be run quarterly,
and the list of broken URLs will be given to Library Web Group members (one
from each unit) to update or remove.
Link checking best practices (from NISO):
http://www.niso.org/linkcheck/NISOLinkCheck.html
Static vs. Dynamic Web pages
Web pages consisting largely of resources will be generated whenever possible.
These dynamic pages are generated from information stored in databases, usually in
MS Access format, using perl, cgi, or php scripts to obtain and display the data.
A large number of static pages will continue to be maintained on the Library’s site. In
order to maintain consistency and quality on these pages, we have a standard
header, footer, page background, etc., and new pages should begin with the
following: <? require("i:\Reference\php3\libPages.php3");.
To facilitate the consistency of the Library’s php pages, a ‘library’ of php macros for a
shareware text editor called Note Tab Lite has been created. Members of the Web
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Group should be familiar with this shareware and with basic php, and staff in their
departments should feel comfortable seeking them out for assistance.
Page Ownership, Location & Contact Information
Each new page on the Library’s Website should have the creator’s name and email
metadata in the header. Until the owners of old pages can be identified, old pages
will default to :
<meta name="creator" content="Unknown">
<meta name="email" content="libscripts@listproc.umbc.edu">
Contact information for all pages will be the most relevant Library Department.
Standardized footer information can be obtained by using the “footer” function in the
Note Tab library.
Departmental Web pages should be in a folder labeled “php3”. Additionally, there
should be standard files locations for images and pages under construction, i.e.,
“img” for images and “wip” for works in progress. Organizing the Web-accessible files
this way will aid future staff who need to modify pages and will keep the files
relatively neat. Also recommended are folders like “doc” or “pdf” for Word or PDF
documents accessible from departmental pages.
Department listservs & Web Group Members
 I:\AllShare\Web Management/Contacts.xls (linked file)
Department
Accounting & Receiving
Acquisitions
Cataloging
Circulation
Collection Management/ILL
Database Management
E-Reserves
Gallery
Library Administration
Library Computing Services
Library Media
Reference
Serials
Special Collections
Technical Services
Main Contact
Linda Seguin
Linda Seguin
Linda Seguin
Jessame Ferguson
Robin Moskal
Linda Seguin
Jessame Ferguson
Drew Alfgren
Larry Wilt
Steve Jones
Jessame Ferguson
Eric Rector
Joyce Tenney
Drew Alfgren
Linda Seguin
Technical Contact (s)
Linda Seguin
Linda Seguin
Linda Seguin
Michael Dick
Robin Moskal
Linda Seguin
Michael Dick
Drew Alfgren
Larry Wilt
Kenny Huether
Jessame
Eric Rector
Peggy Randle
Drew Alfgren
Linda Seguin
Web Group
Linda Seguin
Linda Seguin
Linda Seguin
Jessame Ferguson
Robin Moskal
Linda Seguin
Jessame Ferguson
Drew Alfgren
Larry Wilt
Kenny Huether
Jessame Ferguson
Rector; Burright
Peggy Randle
Drew Alfgren
Linda Seguin
Electronic List (s)
tswebar@listproc.umbc.edu
tswebacq@listproc.umbc.edu
tswebcat@listproc.umbc.edu
circlib@listproc.umbc.edu
cmill@umbc.edu
tswebdbm@listproc.umbc.edu
e-reserves@umbc.edu
speccoll@umbc.edu
libadmin@listproc.umbc.edu
lcshelp@lists.umbc.edu
circlib@listproc.umbc.edu
ref@listproc.umbc.edu
serialsdept@listproc.umbc.edu
speccoll@umbc.edu
tswebgen@listproc.umbc.edu
Web File locations
I:\TechSrvc\acq\php3
I:\TechSrvc\php3
I:\Circ\PHP3
I:\ILL\php3
I:\Reference\php3\Gallery
I:\LibDocs\adm\php3
I:\Media\php3
I:\Reference\php3
I:\Reference\php3\serials
I:\SpecColl\php3
I:\TechSrvc\php3
Troubleshooting & technical contacts (> describes contact order)
KEY
 Digital Public Services Librarian (DPSL)
 Web Services Librarian (WSL)
 Library Computing Services (LCS)
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Web page updates
Web scripting (html, php3, Note Tab)
Advanced scripting (php3, perl, cgi)
Database Design
Training
Web server problems
WSL > DPSL > LCS
WSL > DPSL > LCS
DPSL > WSL > LCS
DPSL > WSL > LCS
WSL > DPSL > LCS
DPSL > WSL > LCS
Training
The Web Services Librarian will provide training each semester in Web page scripting
and on other Web/Electronic resource related topics. Training sessions will be handson and will include step-by-step documentation for staff to take with them.
Web Policy & Communication
Web Policies and procedures will be disseminated to all Library staff through several
mechanisms: Email, a Web Services page, and access to relevant minutes and
documents in the Web Management folder. Every effort should be made by the Web
Group to keep Library staff informed of major changes in the Library’s Web presence,
including changes in the underlying structure, major redesigning of the site, and
added functionality to the Library php or Note Tab libraries.
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Web Services page: http://aok.lib.umbc.edu/webmgt/
Web Management Directory: I:\AllShare\Web Management
Website Maintenance
Link Checking
The Website should be checked for broken links no fewer than 3 times per year—
recommended: January, August, and May—and all members of the Web group should
spot check the content of their departmental pages on a regular basis.
The results of scheduled link checking and spot checks by the Web Services or Digital
Public Services Librarians will be forwarded to the departmental Web Group member
for updating or removal.
Data Backup & Website Stability
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The main page currently resides on umbc7, a.k.a. research, and is backed up
by OIT;
Databases and most PHP scripts currently reside on the Novell server and are
backed up by OIT;
Perl, PHP, & CGI scripts residing on the Library’s server will be backed up
quarterly by the Digital Public Services Librarian;
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OIT is responsible for umbc7 and Novell stability, the Library’s server has an
uninterruptible power supply (UPS) which allows the server to stay up for
approximately 30 minutes without outside power.
Universal Access
The Library’s Website should strive to provide universal access to it’s Website as
articulated by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) in its Web Accessibility
Initiative (WAI) document(s).
 http://www.w3.org/WAI/
Security & Disclaimers
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Library server security: The Library’s current Web server, Xitami, is fairly
secure compared to Microsoft’s IIS and other commercial servers. We have
had very good success with it. All other servers and files are secured by OIT.
Link disclaimers (draft): http://www.umbc.edu/oit/sans/security/policy.html
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