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Local Web Directory
10:36 AM EST 12/6/05
I'm wondering what other libraries have put together local web directories.
Here's mine (which is to say that I find the sites and assign the categories while others add them to the directory): http://www.lvdl.org/webdir/default.asp
In my view, public libraries need to make sure that the tax-paying public (and most especially government officials) see them as "adding value" to the community-as-a-whole as well as to individuals in the community. One way to do this is to promote local businesses and organizations.
The former has influence in the political world. The latter has a lot of voters.
Please note that this is a home-brewed ontology. It's not perfect. Its intent is to help a non-librarian find a directory category with a minimum of effort.
It also gives towns and such a reason to link to us ... an important issue for Google positioning.
This particular directory is co-branded with the Chamber of Commerce. This has proved to be a useful partnership.
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Re: Local Web Directory
2:37 PM EST 12/8/05
as a reply to Chrystie Hill.
This will drift a bit ...
The "get involved" button will, at some point, likely also lead to a "Volunteer Central" service for the community in general ... leastways we have the software for that.
The thing is, there's a surgery center next door that will most likely be expanded into a full-fledged hospital within the next 5 years or so. It's greatly needed, but it is also true that hospitals tend to suck a lot of the volunteers out of a community -- they have the resources to treat them well and give them interesting things to do; they make volunteers feel valuable.
Anyway, having "Volunteer Central" is a way in which I hope to maximize the library's access to volunteers. I figure we've got only two years after groundbreaking.
Luckily, they've got to get state approval and the current ownership recently sold to a Tennessee company. That may stretch things out a bit.
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