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Web Development Staffing
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Web Development Staffing
12:59 PM EDT 10/19/05
Pretend for a moment you could create a library web development department from the ground up. Your a medium-sized, 100+ staff library, that has the usual library services and a web site that is kinda just OK. Currently, you struggle with keeping the site fresh, dynamic, and an important part of your service to the community. Now you want to turn that around and strive for excellence. At what level would you staff a web development department that could turn your web site into a destination for your patrons? How many positions would you have? What kind of skill sets would you look for? To get started I'll list some of the web development positions I've seen described in the literature. I've seen positions broken down into the following categories

Web Management
Web Design and Development
Web Site Marketing
Technical

Within Web Management I've seen job descriptions that include the following:
Web Operations Manager/Director
Web Project Manager
Web Product Manager

Within Web Design and Development I've seen job descriptions that include the following:
Web Designer
Web Programmer
Web Architect
Information Architect
Web Engineer

Within Web Site Marketing I've seen job descriptions that include the following:
Web Marketing Manger
Search Engine Optimization Engineer or SEO/Internet Marketing Specialist

Finally, a Web Technical Administrator/Server Administrator

So what would an excellent web development department look like? I know I'm asking a lot here, anyone want to take a shot at this?

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Ted Stark
Jackson County Library
Medford, OR
Re: Web Development Staffing
2:20 PM EDT 10/19/05 as a reply to Ted Stark.
Great question, Ted! I have found that there's a wide array of expectations behind the job title Web Developer.

I first checked the ever-popular WebJunction article of [url http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=7390 ]Sample Job Descriptions[/url], only to discover that there's nothing about Web development in the list.

I just fielded this job description from today's Web4Lib digest:

Position available: Reference/Web Services Librarian at Lawrence University

RESPONSIBILITIES: Works closely and collaboratively with library faculty and staff to provide and maintain quality services and collections. Coordinates library web site maintenance and development. Creates new and updates existing web pages and provides leadership in developing database-driven web applications. Provides vision for future web projects, explores how new technologies can be implemented on the web site, and provides support for library web development. Provides general reference service in rotation with four other librarians, in a schedule that includes some evening/weekend hours. Develops and delivers library
instruction as a part of the library's information literacy initiatives. Creates and maintains research guides in both print and Web formats.

Whew! It's not clear how much of the 'development' expertise is required --working knowledge of SQL or php, database design and administration? It sure sounds like a demanding position in any case.

Anybody else have some direct experience with this?
Re: Web Development Staffing
10:21 PM EST 11/2/05 as a reply to Betha Gutsche.
Awhile ago the Seattle Public Library put up a really great job description for their Web Manager. It was the coolest job description I've ever read. I think I was actually salivating when I read it (TMI, I know).

You might email Jim Crowley at this address if you'd like to get a copy of it - it's no longer posted on their site.

Cheers!