Transforming Library Websites with Modern Web Development

The primary goal was to:

• Develop modern, responsive websites to enhance accessibility and user experience.
• Integrate fully functional member management systems to handle user registrations, borrowing data, and member communication.
• Enable event updates and registration in real-time to improve community engagement.
• Provide libraries with easily manageable websites for ongoing updates and content management.

The client’s requirement for pair programming presented coordination challenges, causing complications in development workflows. Effective communication and adjustments to project management strategies were essential to keep the project on track.

Our technical approach focused on:

Frontend Development

• Designing and developing bespoke WordPress themes using SASS for modular, maintainable, and efficient CSS.
• Utilizing JavaScript to create interactive UI elements, such as event calendars and resource search tools.
• Following a mobile-first approach, ensuring seamless performance across devices and screen sizes.
• Using CSS Grid and Flexbox for layout designs, enabling dynamic and flexible components.

Backend Development

• Developing a custom plugin in PHP to manage user data, including library memberships, borrowing history, and communication preferences.
• Integrating email notifications to send automated updates for overdue books, new events, and membership renewals.
• Building a robust event registration system that allows users to view, register, and manage event participation in real-time.
• Enabling library administrators to create and update events through the WordPress dashboard effortlessly.

Performance Optimization

• Minifying CSS, JavaScript, and HTML files to ensure faster loading and better performance metrics.
• Implementing server-side caching and browser caching to reduce load times and improve the overall website performance.
• Utilizing tools like Smush to compress images without compromising quality, enhancing load speeds.

Testing and Quality Assurance

• Conducting extensive user testing with library staff and members to gather feedback on usability and ensure all features worked as intended.
• Using tools like Selenium for automated testing of critical workflows, including user registrations and event sign-ups.

Collaboration Workflow

• Using an Agile methodology with weekly sprints to prioritize features and address challenges iteratively.

Despite the challenges, we successfully launched two feature-rich websites for the libraries. These platforms now enable users to explore library resources effortlessly, stay updated on events, and register with ease. Rigorous feedback from the client helped streamline development processes, ensuring a polished final product.