I Suck At Websites

Today, I visited the local library to discuss, of all things, websites. Too bad, I suck at websites. Regardless, the library director had asked me to come in to review their current website with members of her staff.

During the last trustee meeting where the library director was a part of, I may have let slip that I was a developer. To many people, that sounds like "computer stuff", which well... technically it is. Nevertheless, I was happy to review the public library's website with them.

Anyway, it was definitely an insightful meeting. As a developer, I like to get the context surrounding things. After all, the more I know, the more I'll understand what it is that I am looking at, why it came to be, how it is supposed to function, etc.

I must say, it was interesting to see the challenges that the library faces in maintaining their website. The list is almost too long. Among some of those challenges are a cluttered layout design, old rigid code that seems cut/pasted from some template, a dependence on a costly external resource to make changes, and just a lack of resources in general to dedicate to the website.

It definitely will be quite the undertaking to revamp the website in its current state. I fear this may be indicative of things to come due to the library's budgetary constraints. Hopefully I can help turn things around.