> [log in to unmask] (JmPetersen) writes:
> I am curious about how different museums have taken to the path of
> providing a web site, specifically how much are we talking about laying
> out in terms of equipment, software, image production, and internet
> providers. Any postings would be appreciated.
>
> Jim Petersen ([log in to unmask])
> Administrator
> Timken Museum of Art
>
>>>>
Jim,
The implications of putting up a Web site depend on several factors: what
equipment you already have, whether your service provider has web access
and what they charge for that. I notice that you are using aol, and I don't
know their policy on web pages, or if they host web sites at all. Our service
provider
provides web access at a very minimal charge. Look into other, more local
providers in your area who may be able to give you a deal.
Designing a Web page in-house takes patience, understanding, and hard work.
Once you design and put up a web site, you are far from done. You must
maintain
the site, update it, make changes, and respond to the people who are accessing
the
page. The HTML language is fairly simple to learn if you get a good program
like HoTMetaL.
That's the program we used for our web page. The more complex your page is
going to
be, the more knowledge you need. You may consider having someone design a page
for you. Web designers are becoming hot stuff these days. I'm sorry I can't
give you more
information on how to find them, but check out some of the computer programming
newsgroups?
From our experience, a web page cannot be designed in a day or two. Take some
time to
plan the layout, gather the graphics, text, and any other resources you need.
Put the
whole page together on paper, then put it on the web.
Many sites go up with little or no planning, a "get it up ASAP" attitude, which
results in a very
confusing, poorly designed, hard to navigate page. Keep your users in mind
when you design.
The museum web pages I have visited are very good!
Any advice I can give you is only based on our experience, using Windows and
HoTMetaL
and constructing in-house. Our page is going up this weekend, after a minor
name change problem.
Good Luck with your page, it's lots of fun, especially to see it when it's up
and running! Let me know if
you want furthur information, I'll be glad to get you some book titles that
include CD ROM software that
you can take a look at.
--Leigh Hardy
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