Kiama Library: Behind the firewall

[Tim Atkinson]

Kiama has been using a blog for internal communications for the last three years.

The blog has been a great success with staff using it as the major communications tool. It has been a great innovation for maintaining communications with our casual staff as it keeps them involved and “in the loop” for anything that might be used in the library. None uses email internally anymore as the blog has replaced email's use.

Being a small library service, we have one branch at Gerringong connected by a VPN. This allows the staff working there to also be in touch with what Kiama is up to, and vice versa. It has been very popular with staff to keep in touch with all library developments including events, news, comments on posts, staff meeting minutes and sharing any important information. It has worked better than we could have imagined.

The library also has a wiki that uses mediawiki. The wiki is used for all documents that have a tendency to change. This includes team projects, all IT documentation, Strategic, Marketing and Technology plans. We even use it to create the agendas for staff meetings, while minutes are recorded on the blog.

We also use Gallery2.0 for our image library.

We also use Joomla for our intranet. It has many inbuilt Web 2.0 technologies built in or easily added through many free extensions.

The IT Department of Kiama Council has and wants nothing to do with the library. This is good and bad. The major benefits is that the library runs its own network, and a such, can develop the network discussed here. It also means there is no constraint on the budget as all software mentioned is free.

What software did we use?

Apache webserver, PHP, MySql, SQLyog, Wordpress, Feedreader, Cobian backup. Windows XP is the OS. All the software used, except Windows of course, is open source.

XAMPP is an application that installs all the above and can work from a thumb drive. See this link to set up a wiki on a thumb drive. Some good information about security issues as well.

Apache is the webserver. It needs to have some code added to its httpd.config file, but that is straight forward. It is important to give your webserver a static IP address so that staff files can point to it. If you are developing the webserver on a standalone machine to develop something before going live, use the localhost or 127.0.0.1 as the IP address so the webserver will operate properly.

PHP (Personal home page) deals with the dynamic stuff between Apache, Wordpress, MySql. It is easily installed on the webserver and with a few minor adjustments to the php.ini file, that's it.

MySql is the database and is easily installed. It is very important to remember the admin name and password. You'll need it later.

SQLyog is the simplest MySql administation software I have found and makes the creation of a database for you blog or other applications to reside very simple.

Wordpress is simple to install. It has a very good forum and the a multitude of web 2.0 plugins. These are easy to install and make your site customisable for your needs. All staff have the highest access for managing their own posts and comments

Cobian is used to backup the webserver.

The installation process

It is very important to remember usernames and passwords to ensure all the applications can work together. During the installation of these applications, usernames a passwords are called upon regularly.

1. Install apache

2. Install PHP

3. Install MySql

4. Install SQLyog which is where the database is created to store the applications data. Name application with recognisable name.

5. Install wordpress or wiki or gallery. To install more than one blog, it is advised to use wordpressµ which is found on the wordpress site.

What I do is to have shortcut from apache htdocs (where all the applicatons will reside) so that it is easy to access the blog, gallery or wiki. At times you will need to access them to add extensions or troubleshoot the application.

How I use the blog

Since wordpress has inbuilt RSS Feeds on both posts and comments, and using the aggregator Feedreader, the need to check the blog regularly is diminished as the feed reader broadcasts any comments or posts. I also remain logged on, making posting easier.

I also gave all staff easy access with simple usernames and passwords (their first names for both)

The plugins on the blog I use are

Software used is all open source.

Apache - http://httpd.apache.org/download.cgi

PHP - http://www.php.net/downloads.php

MySql - http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/

SQLyog - SQLyog

Wordpress - http://wordpress.org/download/

Cobian - http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cobianbackup.htm

XAMPP - http://sourceforge.net/projects/xampp/

Feedreader - http://www.feedreader.com/download

Mediawiki - http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Download

Gallery2.0 - http://gallery.menalto.com/node/47458

Joomla – http://www.joomla.org

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the process. All the applications listed have a good instructions (some better than others) and forums, FAQs and great support for the beginner. Good luck in your endeavours.