When the public library I work for in Dartmouth, MA wanted a web site redesign, we decided to try using WordPress for the entire site – not just for blogging. The intention is to have something created in open source software that can be fairly easily taught to multiple staff members.

With a push off the diving board from Aaron Schmidt and David Lee King, I dove in and got expert help every step of the way from Kathy Lussier, the Technology expert at the SEMLS regional library organization serving libraries in Southeastern Massachusetts.

The site Dartmouth Public Libraries went live on July 2nd and uses the Triple K2 theme with plugins such as NAVT.

Dartmouth Public Libraries Website

Kerim Friedman provides a good summary of the benefits in using the Triple K2 theme for CMS in his blog post WordPress CMS.

If you are considering switching your library’s website from software such as Dreamweaver to open source software such as WordPress, our site is testimony to the versatility of WordPress for use as an entire website that is more than just a blog. Knowledge of basic CSS is helpful for creation of the site when you wish to customize the theme’s look (something I did a fair amount of for the library site), but once it is established much of the ongoing editing is easily accomplished by staff with little knowledge of website design.