WordPress was the perfect solution for the new Hudson Public Library web site. They wanted a new look & feel for their web site as well as the ability to update the web site content themselves. The web site needed to be interactive and engaging as well as informative, so that their patrons would find it useful and would want to frequent the web site.
The library staff also researched a number of special features that they wanted to include on the web site. After a careful review of their specifications, we determined that WordPress not only met all of their criteria but would also give them many options for future growth and enhancement.
The library staff felt that their old web site not only looked dated but was no longer meeting the needs of their patrons. They researched their requirements by looking at a number of library web sites from around the country and came up with a wish-list of features that they wanted to implement on their new site. Some of these features can be seen on their home page, including:
- A carousel of new books at the library that are linked to the catalog
- A rotating, interactive display of news & events at the library
- Catalog Search
- Event Calendar
- Quick Links to frequently requested items, such as library passes
Since information changes daily, it was critical that the library staff have the ability to modify the web site content themselves. WordPress was chosen because it is a very user-friendly content management system (CMS) that will allow the staff to edit pages using a Word-like editor. It also enables them to easily add new pages to the web site as the need arises.
Because WordPress is highly extensible, we were able to add many of the “extra” features with minimal custom programming. WordPress has a large and growing set of plug-in modules that can be installed and configured to enhance the functionality of the web site. This not only helps to speed up development, but also keeps the cost down.
According to Deborah Kane, head of Technical Services at the Hudson Public Library, “The accolades keep rolling in – everyone loves our new site!“