Chef Larry’s Intranet Café

Welcome

Creating an Internal Web Site for Staff

Menu du Jour

ApéritifHors d’oeuvreSalade verte

EntréeDessertDigestif

ApéritifRecipes that didn’t quite work!

1. Paperless Office

2. Staff Yellow Pages

3. Internal Web Pages

Hors d’oeuvreDefinition

·In’ tra net

- n. “A computer network connecting an affiliated set of clients using standard Internet protocols, especially TCP/IP and HTTP, connected by secure, possibly virtual, networks.”

So, isn’t this just like our

Internet Web site?

Yes1. Uses a Web server to deliver content

2. Requires organization and guidelines

3. It requires maintenance

No1. Small, known audience and want to keep it that way!

2. Easy to forget if it isn’t often used

3. Security permissions very important

4. You know the capabilities of your users

So, am I notjust

DOUBLINGmy work?

No!

1. We all have documents in electronic format

2. We all need to share information3. There are great ways to organize it,

but do we?4. Some of the information may

already be on your public Web site, but could be rearranged for staff use

What types of things would you

put on yourlibrary’s intranet?

Salade Verte

1. List of library hours, general phone numbers, addresses

2. Staff work phone list3. Staff home phone list4. Meeting room schedule5. Public service policies6. Personnel policies7. Press releases8. Photos of staff party

Where does it belong?Internet, intranet, neither?

What format?

1. Print versus screen2. HTML versus native file format3. Adobe PDF versus native file format4. Paper versus electronic5. One file versus two

Guarding the Recipes

1. Unpublished URL2. Login with username and password3. Authenticate by IP address

Things to Remember!

9. Experiment with advanced features

1. Modify work patterns, don’t add work2. Determine best file format3. Store data in one place4. Don’t duplicate Internet site5. Organize directory structure6. Determine security permissions 7. Develop content guidelines8. Create style guides and templates

10. Keep them coming back!

15-minute break

EntréeA demonstration of CMPL’s Intranet

How to Build1. Outsourcing2. Intranet in a Box3. From scratch

Outsourcing Pros

• Don’t have much staff expertise in running a web server

• Don’t have the hardware/software• In a hurry, can be happy with a generic

solution

OutsourcingConcerns

1. Do you feel comfortable with someone else safeguarding your data?

2. Is the customer service of the provider adequate?

3. What happens if you want to take your data and switch providers?

4. What are the guarantees regarding uptime, security, etc?

5. Are you creating extra work by having to transfer documents to a second location?

Out of the BoxPros

1. Ready to go2. Saves time3. Don’t have to understand how it

works

Out of the BoxConcerns

1. Canned look and feel2. Might be hard to fix if it “breaks”3. May not exactly match your

organization’s style

From ScratchPros

1. Custom design can exactly match your needs

2. Can have the “look and feel” of your organization’s culture

3. Can be designed for maximum appeal

From ScratchConcerns

1. Can be time consuming to setup2. Can require programming skills

Miscellaneous1. May need to train staff how to author

Web pages who may not know HTML (e.g. Policies)

2. New windows for whole documents?3. Some documents everyone may want to

“write” on and will need permissions4. Prepare documents for search engine

results5. Dates in documents may update to

current date making them look newer than printed

If I

build it will they

come?

No!

Ifwe

build itwill they

come?

Maybe!

DessertKeep them Coming Back

A. This is something for every department!B. Make it fun, yet informativeC. Use staff names and photosD. Keep it current!E. Pack it with information and promote it

Maybe

1. Subtle force - word of mouth2. Moderate force “available exclusively on

the intranet3. Create a portal worthy as browser startup4. Make part of Active Desktop5. Offer sufficient access, e.g. lounge

FromageComments from a RHPL Web user

“I am definitely not computer literate, so the RHPL Web makes the ‘big gray box in front of me’ less intimidating. It is also a nice way of learning more about other employees in this huge building, especially those who work on another floor entirely. The set-up is really attractive and unique; I don’t know how anybody can keep from using this service. In conclusion, it must be great for patrons who walk by the Web-equipped terminal at the Information Desk; the new ‘toy’ has the employees smiling and looking riveted, so they must see how much fun we have working here!”

DigestifQuestions

La FinFurther information is available at:

http://www.cmpl.org/presentations/larry