19 Aug ODIN website updated
The website that serves to connect the varied libraries of the state in North Dakota received its first major update in five years, an update that aims to make things easier to find than ever.
The Online Dakota Information Network (ODIN) redesign was prompted when the ODIN Member Libraries decided to have two systems – one for Academic Libraries and one for Public, School, and Special libraries. According to Jason Bedsaul, senior library systems/applications and web integrator, the previous website organization was designed for a single system, so members were having a harder time locating the information they needed. Given that the platform itself was also an older version that was approaching the end of its support, the decision was made to redesign the site.
Overall, the redesign was a group effort with many contributors, although Bedsaul notes that the site was primarily developed and redesigned in-house by two ODIN office members with input from other staff and the member libraries.
“All the ODIN staff was involved,” he noted. “We also relied on support from the networking and server teams. A small group of librarians representing each of the different types of libraries was also instrumental in helping us with usability testing.”
He added that the content migration had to be a manual process involving the whole ODIN office staff due to platform changes and the new dual-system support. As part of the update and redesign, the latest versions of servers and platforms were put into place to ensure as much stability as possible.
“We also made the decision to open most of the content to the public,” Bedsaul noted. “Our previous website versions required a login. This was a welcome change for many of our libraries. It allows us to share our trainings and knowledge of the software we support with the broader community of users.”
Currently, ODIN provides primary software and third-party authentication support for more than 60 member libraries and database authentication and billing for more than 350 participating libraries in the state, providing access to over 80 licensed resources. All told, those combined licensed resources plus the collections at the libraries and the Open Access allows for “billions of records” to be accessed through ODIN.
Bedsaul added that it was a group effort with lots of contributors.
“With the redesign, we hope that the libraries will have quick and easy access to the training and information that they need,” he concluded.
The website can be visited at https://www.odin.nodak.edu.