The South Dakota State Library is working with Mile Up web developers to help public libraries launch their own library websites. The following services are offered FREE of charge to participating public libraries:
You can do this! If you would like to add your library to the wait list for a website in 2024, Contact Shawn at SDSL.
If you do not think your library needs a new website, please read on…
Why your library needs a website
A website is your library’s:
Why your library needs a new website
If you already have a website or a webpage on your city/county website, ask yourself:
…but I have a Facebook page…
Social media is great for promoting the library, but you need a website for providing access to your library’s digital services.
Good to know
The State Library will pay for your account, the webpage template, and hosting fees for your library website. If you decide you’d like to add additional pages or other features, you may make arrangements with the vendor to purchase optional add-ons on your own.
Visit the websites of these participating digital branch libraries.
Video tutorials from Mile UpYourSDLibrary participants: Mile Up create the following videos to help you make edits to your library's website.
How to change text on your library's website
How to change images on your library's website
How to upload and link to PDF files
How to add and delete images from the New Release Carousel
How to manage the WhoFi Community Calendar (tutorial from WhoFi)
Libraries can update the text and images between the top main image and the footer. Other content is locked. It was set up this way to make editing worry-free for you. Contact Shawn if you wish to have editing permission to the header and footer areas of your library's web page.
Refer to the instructions you were emailed when your library's website went live. Each library has its own account for making updates to its website. Your library's account credentials are on the customized instructions you were sent.
You should review all of the information & links on your website at least quarterly. If you use your website to post event information, review and update the content more often. Remember, this is your library's digital branch. Wash the windows and pull the weeds in the parking lot. Don't let it look neglected!
Use the Gmail address you set up for your library to log into analytics.google.com. Find the number of "Sessions" for the calendar year. This video shows you how to use Google Analytics to report library visits: https://youtu.be/1ZIkwLi4-gE
When you do a search for an organization, Google shows you a business profile of information about your organization gleaned from the web. You can (and should) claim it so that you can post accurate information about your library. Be sure to point your library Google My Business listing to your new website so people find it easily when they search for your library on the web.
Yes. SDSL is paying for the basic one-page website and hosting services, but you can add additional features at your own expense. You may contact Mile Up directly to purchase additional pages, news feed, events calendar, event slideshow, search bar. See the optional add-ons (below) for fees.
Here are additional tutorials to help you customize your library's webpages.
Divi Builder Basics - https://www.elegantthemes.com/documentation/divi/visual-builder/
Divi Sections - https://www.elegantthemes.com/documentation/divi/sections/
Divi Rows - https://www.elegantthemes.com/documentation/divi/rows/
Text Module - https://www.elegantthemes.com/documentation/divi/text/
Image Module - https://www.elegantthemes.com/documentation/divi/image/
Gallery Module - https://www.elegantthemes.com/documentation/divi/gallery/
Button Module - https://www.elegantthemes.com/documentation/divi/button/
Tabs Module - https://www.elegantthemes.com/documentation/divi/tab/
Contact Shawn if the webpage content you would like to edit is locked and we will ask Mile Up to change the permissions on your library's website.
Funding for this program is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) as administered by the South Dakota State Library.