Website in a Box
The Website in a Box project, active in 2007-2010, was designed to provide a library website and the training needed to maintain it. The project was available to Utah Public Libraries that are certified with the Utah State Library, or actively working with an USL consultant to become certified.
The goal was to make it manageable for library directors to come and in one day build a website based on what BCR had already constructed. Another goal was to teach the skills needed to keep the websites current. Librarians learn how to choose a theme, design their site, and add content. They learned to add graphics, email addresses, links, pages, blogs, and everything else they need to create a library website. We used Wordpress blogging software to build the project so the websites all have Internet 2.0 capabilities.
This was a collaboration between the Utah State Library (USL) and BCR and was originally funded through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Staying Connected grant program. The Utah State Library has maintained the project since the first year. As of July 2010 it has moved on to the next level, where libraries have moved to their own servers or their city's server and are self-sustaining.
Shelly Drumm and Regan Harper of BCR, and Colleen Eggett of USL designed the project. There were 15 libraries originally that had a website through this project. Others besides those linked to above were Ephraim, Helper, Mendon, Gunnison, Milford, and Parowan. As the project was completed, 9 libraries still have sustained websites through the project, the rest have sought websites or space through their towns.
Colleen Eggett
Training Coordinator/ Consultant
(800) 662-9150 x776 (Utah toll-free) or (801) 715-6776
ceggett@utah.gov