Luwak: a content management solution
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830610652077 |
| Pages | 8-13 |
| Published date | 01 January 2006 |
| Date | 01 January 2006 |
| Author | Matt Benzing |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
THEME ARTICLE
Luwak: a content management
solution
Matt Benzing
Rensselaer Research Libraries, Troy, New York, USA
Abstract
Purpose – To inform librarians about the benefits, costs, and technologies involved in implementing
a content management system.
Design/methodology/approach – A discussion of how XML is used to separate content from
presentation, how this technology is used in a home-grown freeware application, and the results of
converting a static website into a database driven one through the use of this application.
Findings – Demonstrates that converting to a dynamic, application driven web site results in a more
flexible, efficient, and consistent web presence.
Research limitations/implications – Every library is unique and what worked well at Rensselaer
might not work as well elsewhere. Luwak is currently only available to organizations at Rensselaer.
Practical implications – A useful primer on how a conversion like this happens and on the sort of
features that can make a database driven web application run smoothly.
Originality/value – This paper provides a unique account of one libraries’ experience in making the
sort of transition that will become increasingly important for all library web sites.
Keywords Content management,Extensible Markup Language,Open systems,
Database managementsystems
Paper type Case study
HTML was originally designed to be a content description language. Appearance and
layout were secondary concerns, especially in the early days when text-based browser s
like Lynx were the only way to access the web. With the development of graphical
browsers, however, HTML became increasingly cluttered with page layout and
descriptive tags that did nothing to describe content.
XML was developed as solution to this problem. The idea was to once again sever
form from content, so that content could easily be adapted or transformed into new
formats. In XML systems, content is kept within XML tags and form and design is
applied through XSLT, a style sheet language. This means that information can be
transmitted through a variety of hand-held devices, browsers, printers, and other
output mechanisms without the time-consuming process of adapting information for
each medium. A separate style sheet is invoked for each use, which then transforms the
content into an acceptable form. It also means that persons inputting information do
not necessarily have to know anything about layout and design, and can simply follow
a template or use a series of forms to deposit their information into an XML database.
Rensselaer Research Libraries are a part of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a
technologically-oriented university in Troy, New York. Like many institutions,
Rensselaer Research Libraries were dealing with the difficulties caused by users
accessing their web site with multiple browser types, with the need to adapt web pages
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
LHT
24,1
8
Received 1 September 2005
Revised 1 November 2005
Accepted 15 November 2005
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 24 No. 1, 2006
pp. 8-13
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/07378830610652077
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