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SpringyCamp 2020: Migrating to LibGuides and LibCal

2020 SpringyCamp Virtual Poster Presentation.

Staff and City Secretary Buy In

When our Library Director decided to have the library migrate to Springshare, we needed approval from the City's Secretary, the person in charge of the city website. When meeting with the City Secretary, we laid out the plan for the site and how we would keep elements of the city website on our site. We also explained that the library has outgrown the city website and that we needed the flexibility to grow as more resources and programs are add to the library.

The library staff bought into the change seeing the benefit of LibCal, allowing paperless registration for programs, which made a smoother process during the Summer Reading Program.

The long term goal is to have designated librarians be in charge of their respective page (i.e., Children Program, Adult Program, Teen Program) and would allow them to make any changes needed.

Project Timeline

Dickinson Public Library purchased Springshare LibGiudes and LibCal in March 2019. Below details the timeline for taking LibGuides and LibCal live.

March 2019

March 1-20, 2019- Trial version of LibGuides.

March 22, 2019- Library signed an agreement for LibGuides, LibCal software with Springshare.

April 2019

  • Library IT staff received access to library LibGuides and LibCal as Administrator and began initial setting up LibGuides.
  • Library Director and City Secretary (Administrator for city website) received access to LibGuides and LibCal.
  • Audit library site map and develop a site map for LibGuides.
  • Create wireframes for default homepage and A to Z homepage for databases.
  • Style Guide developed to closely match that of the city website even though the city does not have an official Style Guide for both LibGuides and LibCal.
  • Develop a working blog detailing experience to date.

May 2019

  • Conduct site map testing for easy navigation.
  • Develop a rule for image assets.
  • Customization of the LibGuides and LibCal will start during the development of Style Guide. Mostly for the top navigation and bottom navigation.
  • Develop LibGuides homepage with the default homepage or with a guide acting as a homepage. 
  • Develop Storage Guide and Master Template Guide and instructions.
  • Beta testing with LibGuides and LibCal internally with Library Director.
  • Develop the LibCal homepage for calendars.
  • Discuss changes made to LibGuides, LibCal with Library Director.

June 2019

  • Pilot LibCal for 2019 Summer Reading Program.
  • Create and publish LibCal hours.
  • Discuss branding with City Secretary and what to incorporate into the library website.
  • Develop Publishing Guide Guideline for additional staff.

July 2019

  • Adjustments added to LibCal during the summer based on feedback from patron and staff.
  • Work continues on the LibGuides homepage.
  • Work continues on A-Z design.
  • Create Study Room Booking in LibCal.

August 2019

  • Start migrating databases from the library website to LibGuides A to Z guide.
  • Develop A to Z template.
  • The internal pilot of LibCal began on the September Calendar, Adult Calendar, and Teen Calendar.
  • The internal test pilot room for Study Room booking with a limited number of patrons begins.
  • Work with TSLAC and Booksystem, Inc. to add patron authentication for databases current Site Map.

September- December 2019

  • Modify and develop guide pages, A-Z page, and home page.

January 2020

  • Forward link from city library page to LibGuides
  • Link library domain to point to LibGuides
  • Create sub-domain for LibCal.
  • The site goes live end of January.
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