Library Web Development: Beyond Tips and Tricks

Increasingly in need of staff with robust coding and web development skills, libraries have begun hiring experts to provide opportunities for library professionals to develop these skills. But according to Bengtson (head, information technology svcs., Kansas State Univ. Libs.), library professionals interested in basic coding skills might not know how to troubleshoot like a seasoned coder, and expert coders who are not information professionals might not fully understand user needs. In addition to discussing the many challenging scenarios that he has experienced as a library web developer, such as customizing Google Analytics or building interactive maps, the author shares his ten rules for thinking critically and solving coding-related issues in libraries and demonstrates how these are applied in practice.