Making a management library website: a case of Vikram

Sarabhai Library, IIM Ahmedabad

By Viral Navik – Sr. Library Professional, Vikram

Sarabhai Library, IIM Ahmedabad

Bhavesh Patel – IT Professional, Vikram Sarabhai Library, IIM Ahmedabad

ETBL, 21 November, 2017

Why we need to analyse the library website? or thinking about redesigning the library website

• Library website is the first contact point for users. Is your library website, fulfilling the users needs?

• Is library has a user-centered design?

• Content management of library resources is proper?

• Library website is dynamic in terms of regular updates (News, events, resources etc.)?

• Your library website is interactive?

Why we need to analyse or redesign the library website?

• Your library website is device compatible and browser compatible?

• Does your library website supports the research and subjective needs of users?

• Does your library website has social media, RSS feed, augmented reality and virtual reality etc.

Introduction of Vikram Sarabhai Library website – IIM Ahmedabad

http://library.iima.ac.in/ (Landing page)

• Vikram Sarabhai Library website is made in open source PHP (Hypertext Pre-processor) scripting language and MySQL

• Developed & maintained by library staff

• It is very user friendly and user interactive

• It is device compatible and mobile friendly

• One platform or one window access of LMS, IR, Discovery Search Engine, Subject guide and Social Media.

• Website Statistics through Google analytics

History and challenges of making Vikram Sarabhai library website

• During 2002 to 2004 – V S Library website was in HTML

• Challenges - Not user interactive, Static, not proper navigation, Browser incompatible, Limited display content, need to write lots of codes

• During 2004 to 2008 – Library web site was in HTML

• Improvement from Previous website - Multiple HTML pages, improve navigation

• During 2008 to 2014 – Library website was in Joomla (CMS – Content Management System)

• Improvement from Previous website - Dynamic content, easy to manage, improves in interlinking of web pages includes OPAC & IR

• Challenges - customization issues, security issue, plugin issues

• During 2014 to 2017 – Library website was made in PHP (Hypertext Pre-processor) & MySQL

• Improvement from Previous website - More dynamic content, easy to manage, improves in interlinking of web pages, Google analytics integration, Integration of Discovery, A-Z journals, and OPAC

• Challenges - Not responsive

Latest Website - February 2017 Improvement from Previous website - Responsive, user interactive, integration of subject guide, all in one search (IR, OPAC, Discovery, J-Gate, Database), social media widget, more features like testimonials, faculty publication and IR Videos Future enhancement - Real time library statistics integration, virtual map integration

How to make a great management library website

• User Requirements - One window search facility (Discovery, Databases, Journals, IR, OPAC) - ILL form, Remote Access login, New arrivals, - News Digest, Ask a librarian - Subject -

• Research & subjective needs

Content Management

• Social Media Integration (Facebook, Twitter)

More SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Friendly – Content is KING

Different views in various gadgets

Tools and technologies used for making a Vikram Sarabhai library website

• PHP (Open Source Scripting Language) • My SQL ( database ) • Responsive (Bootstrap technology) • Use of .HTACCESS (URL rewrite rules) – to

making more user-friendly website. • Google analytics for in-depth usage analysis

purpose • More SEO friendly content ( Title & meta

data, URLs, etc)

Google analytics report of year 2016

Google analytics report of year 2017

Changes in statistics based on changes in technology up gradation

2016 2017

Session 81000 83000

Page view 143000 178000

Average duration 2:08 3:03

Conclusion of this case

• Achieved the user requirements.

• Usage is increased (hits and session per users)

• Use of open source technology – customized as per our need

• Increase ranking into various search engines ( Goolge.com, Ask.com, etc..) with good SEO (Search Engine Optimization) friendly strategy.

Thank You