Westlake Porter Public Library’s local history page was recently redesigned by webmaster Matt Weaver to include dynamic slideshows from the library’s photo collection. Several library employees have started blogs on Porter’s Web site on their topics of expertise. The library has also added podcasts.

Porter Web site expands features
By Kevin Kelley
Westlake
Published July 9, 2008

As new technology changes the ways people record and store information, libraries must adapt and add the new technology to their collections.

So it is at Westlake Porter Public Library, which in recent years has added DVDs, audio books, downloadable videos and downloadable audio books to its collection of books and magazines.

With the Web changing the way people look up information, the library has been putting more information on its Web site.

When Porter held a poetry contest for students in kindergarten through grade five this spring, the entries were posted on the library Web site — in audio format as well as text.

Reading their poems out loud in addition to writing them down on paper was a thrill for the students, said Cathy McCann, youth services associate at Porter.

“They were so excited,” McCann said. “Sometimes entire families came (to the recording sessions). Most of them had practiced before they got here and had their poems memorized.”

The 25 students who entered the contest were simply encouraged to be creative, McCann said.

The children had the opportunity to record more than one take and listen to their recordings. No one was too shy to make a recording, McCann said.

Many were very excited to tell their out-of-town grandparents and other family members about their recorded recitals, McCann said.

“I think it was very exciting for them to see their works published,” McCann said.

The idea to make the recording of the students’ poems came from Youth Services Manager Carolyn Fain.

But the idea to put podcasts on the library Web site came from Porter Webmaster Matt Weaver. Youth Services Librarian Beth Kuilmar made three holiday recordings at the end of 2007 to launch Porter’s podcasting.

Weaver said the students’ poetry recordings went better than he expected.

“I have to say, I kind of expected to have to do a lot of takes,” Weaver told West Life. “They all came in, and I think most of them did it on one take.”

Weaver uses easily acquired equipment to make the podcasts — a freeware recording program called Audacity and a USB microphone.

Future subjects for podcasts include oral history projects and video tutorials designed to help people use various library services such as databases and downloadable audiobooks and videos, Weaver said.

Weaver would also like to make online videos summarizing Porter’s computer classes.

“The idea would be to have videos that people, having taken a course, could go back to if they need a little clarification on how to do a particular task,” Weaver said.

Weaver also recently redesigned Porter’s local history page, adding slideshows from the library’s photo collection.

“My goal was just to create something with more visual interest in the hope that people would spend a little more time,” Weaver said. “Before, the site was just a big vertical list.”

Weaver is also working to transform the “Book Connections” section of the Web site into an online community.

“Patrons will be able to contribute tags (like keywords) to describe books and share their collective knowledge to help people find books that they like in a more dynamic way,” Weaver said.

Weaver worked part time at Porter for three years before getting his master’s of library science degree via distance learning from Syracuse University. He surveyed Porter patrons on how they look for books they want to read as part of his master’s thesis.

Porter Director Andrew Mangels said Weaver’s customer service experience at Porter combines nicely with his information technology skills.

“He worked down on the floor, worked with customers, worked with patrons, and had other experiences as well,” Mangels said. “Even though he’s kind of in the IT side of things now, he clearly has one foot in the public services arena, which you need to have.”

Porter’s Web site has also added a series of blogs by Porter employees.

“We didn’t assign anybody to blog,” Mangels said. “The people who are blogging are the people who want to blog. They have an interest that they want to share with people and they do that through their blog.”

For example, several youth services librarians blog about children’s books.

“They typically blog on library topics, and they’ll usually stay within a pretty tight framework of what their specialty is,” Mangels said.

Mangels said the next step is for Porter employees to start blogging on outside Web sites to advertise and promote services and activities the library offers.

Porter’s hiring of a full-time webmaster in Weaver underscored the importance of the Web site for the organization, Mangels said.

“We want to create an inviting, interactive Web page that allows people to easily find what they’re looking for,” Mangels told West Life.

Porter’s director said he views the library’s Web site as a virtual branch.

“It is an extension of the library,” he said. “We want people to be able to find the information they need and utilize the Web to make their life easier.”

For example, he said, people can reserve books online and pick them up via Porter’s drive through without even setting foot in the building, Mangels said.

(The Web address for Westlake Porter Public Library is www.westlakelibrary.org.)