Annual Report (2004)
ARLIS/NA Web Site Editor

Submitted By:                        Nedda H. Ahmed

                        Denison University

                        ARLIS/NA Web Site Editor

                        ahmedn@denison.edu

                        740-587-6688

Aside from the usual post-conference maintenance, the bulk of the work for this position has been dealing with, planning for, and implementing the re-design of the entire ARLIS/NA Web Site.  During the spring and summer, an AWS Task Force set to work drafting a Request for Proposal which could be sent out to web design firms. Two firms, Q Limited and Ion, were contacted and asked to provide a rough outline of how they envisioned the new AWS.  After deliberation, the Task Force selected the design of Q Limited.

During the summer, ARLIS/NA members were asked to share their opinions regarding the aesthetics and functionality of the current AWS. They were also asked to provide input on how the site could be improved and what features they wanted to see in the new site.  This research phase was a major portion of the work carried out by Q Limited, and all the data was considered in designing the information architecture for the new site.

AWS New Site Highlights:

• Improved navigability, with drop-down menus on each page to facilitate faster navigation around the site
• Improved aesthetics using Cascading Style Sheets for a unified look and “feel”
• Improved file structure—will maintain order & structure “behind the scenes”
• Improved Information Architecture—everything in its place!
• New modes of communication, including Features on the home page, a News & Events page, and an Events Calendar
• Easier access to members-only section (log in by clicking a link that will appear on ALL pages)
• Eventually, most pages will be encoded in XML format, ensuring maximum web longevity

Roll-out of the new site is planned for early March, 2005.  Derek Crosley, webmaster, will be instrumental in the technical aspects of mounting and troubleshooting the new site.

Looking ahead, once the major technical issues have been resolved, most of the work on the site will consist of re-coding older pages to the new template and creating new content to “flesh out” the new web site.  The 2 new editorial positions will be a great help in this respect.  Other documents will also need attention, such as the Policy Manual, but the entity responsible for editing these items is not clear at this time.