The Accidental Webmaster

Citation

Fourie, I. (2003), "The Accidental Webmaster", The Electronic Library, Vol. 21 No. 6, pp. 616-617. https://doi.org/10.1108/02640470310509225

Julie Still can very well associate with those who suddenly found themselves with the title of “Webmaster”. She is a trained librarian, author, conference speaker and… “accidental Webmaster”. As she learned from her own experience, a simple remark that something might be useful for a Web page, might easily lead to a few more questions on whether you know how to do it, whether you can host a Web site, and what it will cost… The next moment you might find yourself to be the Webmaster for a non‐profit organization, small business or interest group, that needs the power of the Web for marketing, but cannot afford the services of “professional” Web designers. Julie Still refers to such people as “accidental Webmasters”.

The first paragraph of Chapter 1 sets the scenario: “Sometimes these things just happen. There you are minding your own business, and the next thing you know you're an accidental Webmaster. One minute you're footloose and fancy‐free; the next you're responsible for your chamber of commerce's Web site. You become the guy, the guru, the person who keeps the book club up‐to‐date on what everyone thinks about the latest novel. You are the superwoman who single‐handedly holds the friends of the library together. You are the person whose fault it is when anything goes wrong …”

The design of a Web site is only a minor challenge faced by a Webmaster. Maintenance is even more time‐consuming. Based on her own experience and especially the work she has done for Abington Trails, a community trails group, Still discusses the key issues that will face an “accidental Webmaster”. Advice on the issues of getting started, setting policies, working with ISPs, designing home pages, selecting content, drawing site traffic, gaining user feedback, fundraising, avoiding copyright problems, etc. are shared in a very practical way. The book is aimed at the design and management of dynamic Web sites.

The Accidental Webmaster consists of a preface, 20 chapters, a bibliography, Web resources and a well structured eight page index. The book is divided into two parts. The first part consists of 11 chapters, and deals with various issues concerning Web site design and maintenance. Chapter 1 discusses the way ordinary people may become accidental Webmasters and what might be expected from them. Chapter 2 discusses the issues of site structure and organization, and chapter 3 the options available for Web hosting, selecting Internet service providers and working with them. Web site design and selecting content are discussed in chapters 4 and 5. Chapter 6 covers the creation of online communities, chapter 7 covers marketing and feedback, and chapter 8 deals with fundraising issues. Legal issues and liability, and dealing with new developments are, respectively, dealt within chapters 9 and 10. Chapter 11 deals with the psychological well being of the Webmaster, and how he/she should be cared for. Still remarks: “It might be prudent to leave this lying around where those in control of your organization can find it” (p. xii).

The second part of The Accidental Webmaster deals with specific types of Web sites. The categories discussed include advocacy sites, political organizations, church and religious groups, cultural organizations, family group sites, fan sites, professional offices, school and children‐oriented sites, and small business and e‐commerce sites.

There are many detailed books on the programming and technical intricacies of Web site design. The intention with The Accidental Webmaster is not to replicate these sources, but to focus on the “softer”, people issues – the numerous questions for which the novice Web designer needs to find an answer. Still had read widely on the topic (including more technical sources) to expand her own horizons. She shares this with the readers in the list of recommended readings at the end of each chapter, as well as the bibliography at the end of the book. A list of Web resources is also included.

The Accidental Webmaster is a “must‐have” book for anyone in charge of the Web site of a small organization, business or interest group. It is an essential point of departure that can (and actually should) be followed up by readings from the more technical literature on Web site design. It is also a publication that I would bring to the attention of LIS students, if any of them might find themselves in a position where an extra income or part‐time job with limited time constraints might be a bonus.