This document provides an overview of WordPress and how it can be used by libraries. It discusses what WordPress is, why it is a good choice for libraries, and its different flavors and hosting options. It also covers the basics of building a WordPress site including posts, pages, comments, plugins, themes, security, and administration. Resources for getting started and help with WordPress are provided.

1. WordPress Crash Course:
What is it and how can your library
use it?
June 14, 2012
Polly-Alida Farrington
Amanda Goodman
flickr.com/photos/ericmmartin/2986187518

2. Big thanks to:
• Kyle Jones
• Amanda Goodman
• Dan Freeman
alatechsource.org/

3. Today’s topics
• What is WordPress
• What’s a Content Management System
• Sites that use WordPress
• Why WordPress is a great choice for libraries
• Flavors of WordPress
• Nuts and Bolts of WordPress
• Menus and navigation options
• Security and site administration
• Getting help: the WordPress community

4. “…having a web presence, no–
that having a really good and
really useful web presence–is
[no longer] optional.
Joyce Valenza, “Things I think teacher
librarians should unlearn (20 & counting)”,
August 24th, 2010

6. Photo CC by Caveman http://flic.kr/p/66Q4Xo

7. WordCamp 2006!

12. What is WordPress?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3036/2913018697_ccbb33e993_b.jpg

13. Open Source is Unlocked
www.flickr.com/photos/subcircle/500995147/

14. Open Source is Community
www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/170691672

15. Content Management
System
http://www.flickr.com/photos/atibens/4578260998/

16. Heade
r
Feature
Slider
Sidebar
News Post

17. Header
News Post
Sidebar

18. Who uses WordPress?

19. http://en.wordpress.com/stats/ (as of 2012 May 27)

20. http://trends.builtwith.com/cms (as of 2012 May 27)

22. http://www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au/

24. http://www.qcrg.net/

25. Why WordPress?

26. Web Based Admin

28. Spread the work around

29. Easy to add contributors

30. Simpler admin for contributors

31. Easy to add external content

32. Invite & control commenting

33. Users access content their way

34. Mobile-friendly
http://hacklibschool.wordpress.com http://android.wordpress.org/

35. Creativity & Flexibility
www.flickr.com/photos/nattu/895220635/

36. Before WordPress
www.flickr.com/photos/24842486@N07/4375175725/

37. After WordPress
www.flickr.com/photos/glaciertim/4380929192/

38. Flavors of WordPress

39. Hosted for Free

40. WordPress.com -- Hosted

41. Premium Themes

43. Self-Hosted

44. Self-Hosted In House
• Cost of server
• Maintenance
• IT support
• Unlimited possibilities

45. Self-Hosted
Commercial Service
• Around $10-20/month
• Easy install
• Tech support
For more hosts: http://wordpress.org/hosting/

46. Technical Requirements
• Current WordPress Version 3.3.2
• Linux & Apache (preferred)
• MySQL version 5.0 or greater
• PHP version 5.2.4 or greater

47. MultiSite Install

48. BuddyPress.org
Interview with Michael Stephens & Kenley Neufeld about BuddyPress in the classroom:

49. Let’s Build a Site

56. Basic Types of Content
Posts
News articles, timely, up-to-date, frequently changing.
Pages
Static pages, timeless info, about, contact, policies, services,
etc.
Comments
Notes from your readers

79. 3 Party Content
rd

85. More about: Plugins

87. Add functionality & features

88. WordPress.com Stats
Requires API code
from WordPress.com
http://wordpress.org/extend/
plugins/stats/

89. Akismet
Requires API code from WordPress.com
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/akismet/

90. OpenBook Book Data
johnmiedema.ca/portfolio/openbook-wordpress-plugin/

91. WP Contact Form Plugin
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-contact-form/

92. Events & Calendars
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/the-events-calendar/
http://eventespresso.com/

93. More about: Themes

94. Themes
http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/

96. Modify a theme

97. Change color & size

99. Inspect Element

100. Child Themes
http://wpcharity.com/

101. More about: Security &
Site Administration

102. Don’t leave the door unlocked
Run the latest version

103. Keep it Safe
www.flickr.com/photos/maistora/3237164755

104. Back it up!
Backup your database:
Via web host control panel
Or wp-db-backup plugin
(wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-db-backup/)
FTP to server & make a copy of this directory:
/wp-content

105. WordPress in Libraries
Examples
(http://lib20.pbworks.com/classes-wordpress-websites)

106. http://friendsofspl.wordpress.

108. http://cheshirelibrary.org/

110. http://library-online.org.uk/

111. http://library.sbcc.edu/

112. http://libraries.umw.edu/

114. http://library.arlingtonva.us/

116. http://library.castilleja.org/

119. http://tscpl.org/

121. More about: Getting Started

122. Start Playing!
• WordPress.com
Great place to play, test and maybe host your live site
• InstantWP.com
Download to your PC and run self-hosted WordPress server locally
• WebEnabled.com
30-day free trial of hosting
• Bitnami.org
Download to your PC or Mac and run self-hosted WordPress server locally

123. Getting Help
• WordPress Codex
http://codex.wordpress.org/
• WordPress Forums
http://wordpress.org/support/
• WordPress FAQ’s
http://codex.wordpress.org/FAQ
• New to WordPress? http://
codex.wordpress.org/FAQ_New_To_WordPress

124. Selected WP Books
• Digging into WordPress by
Jeff Starr & Chris Coyier
(digwp.com)
• Beginning WordPress 3 by
Stephanie Leary
• Smashing WordPress by
Thord Hedengren

125. Thank you!
More information & resources at
http://lib20.pbworks.com/classes-wordpress-websites
Amanda Goodnman
amanda@godaisies.com
http://www.godaisies.com
Polly-Alida Farrington
polly@pafa.net
http://www.pafa.net