Before there was the World Wide Web, there was Gopher. The UC Berkeley Library had a gopher site. We were cutting edge.
When the World Wide Web emerged and wrestled the mighty Gopher to the ground, The Library embraced the Mosaic browser. White papers were written, task forces were formed, mission statements were birthed, and we were there, on the ground floor.
The UCB Library Web Development Team was formed in August 1994 and discharged in April 1996 when the server was formally placed in production mode. The Web Team was charged by Library administration with designing a World-Wide Web (HTTP) server for the Library.
Highlights:
- 1996 the UC Berkeley Library Web was born. HTML 1 and Mosaic browser rocked!
- 1999 the Library Web homepage was redesigned based on the TOTI (Tip of the iceberg) principle.
- 2004 the Library Web homepage and top-level pages were redesigned by the Library Web Designer.
- 2011 a mobile website that includes high-use mobile-friendly content was developed.
- 2011 the Web Advisory Committee works on a redesign of the Library Web homepage and top-level pages.
- 2013 the Web Services Review Team (WSRT) engages in extensive user testing and recommends that the public side of the Library Web move from an HTML-based website, into Drupal. The WSRT also recommends that The Library utilize the LibGuides platform to serve information about library collections.
- 2013 the Web Services Team (WST) works with the Library Designer to develop a new look, feel and architecture for the Library Web.
- 2014 the Library Website in Drupal 7, and the LibGuides platform were launched in time for fall semester.
- 2018 the Library Web homepage is made mobile-friendly.
- 2018 the Library Communications Office begins Phase 1 of a Library Website redesign.
- 2019 the Library Communications Office wrapped up Phase 1 which generated basic categories and foundational navigation design.
- 2020 the Library Communications Office hires a UX Research firm to conduct focus groups.
- 2021 the Library Communications Office and Library IT start collaborating to redesign the Library Website in Drupal 9 according to the templates provided by the UX Research firm.
- 2022 the redesigned Library Website in Drupal 9 goes live at the end of spring semester.