Benzonia Public Library
Website planning & design

Benzonia Public Library Website Reorganization

Revised site structure and implementation checklist

The new website will use permanent pages for essential library information and organized posts for programs, announcements, biographies, and historical projects. Main pages will introduce each topic and link to the related posts. This plan incorporates the project notes supplied by Ray.

Explore the color palettes

Compare ten color directions, with swatches, hex codes, and recommendations for Benzonia.

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Explore the font combinations

Compare ten heading and body font pairings using the same library sample text.

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1 Revised Page Structure

Home

Keep the homepage focused on library information, upcoming activities, and clear links to frequently used services. Prioritize the catalog, library cards, hours and location, youth programs, and the book shop.

About the Library

Create one comprehensive About page combining the existing About content, History of BPL, BPL 90th Celebration information and photographs, and Renovations 2017.

Convert BPL Awards and Proud Moments, Gianola Art to Benefit BPL, Museum on Main Street, individual Noteworthy at BPL features, and BPL 100 Year Celebration into posts. Create a main Library News and Stories page to organize and display these posts.

Board of Trustees

Create one Board of Trustees page listing all current trustees and brief biographical information. Convert individual trustee biographies into posts and link to them from the main page.

Create a separate Reports, Minutes and Agendas page combining Annual Reports with Minutes and Agenda. Organize documents by year and document type.

Hours and Location

Keep this as a dedicated page with library hours, holiday closures, address, directions, and contact information.

Newsletters

Create a Newsletter page with an introduction, newsletter information, email signup form, and an archive organized by year. Move standalone spotlight articles into posts where appropriate and link to them from the newsletter content.

Staff and Volunteers

Reorganize the main page to clearly introduce current staff and volunteers. Convert individual biographies into posts linked from this page. Keep Volunteer Opportunities as a dedicated page explaining available roles and how to participate.

Services

Use the Services page as an overview linking to Get a Library Card, Resources and Catalog, Computers and Technology Services, Library of Things, Accessibility, and Michigan Activity Pass. Convert Book Club Kits into a post and link to it from the Services page.

Get a Library Card

Create this page using the existing New Accounts content. Explain eligibility, required identification, registration steps, and how to begin borrowing.

Resources and Catalog

Create one central page combining the internal Catalog page, digital resources, research tools, and useful links. Organize it into the following sections:

  • Library catalogs: Main catalog and Kids’ Catalog
  • Reading collections: Caregiver Resource Library, Great Michigan Read, Michigan Notable Books, Workforce Development Books
  • Digital reading: Libby/OverDrive and ReadMichigan
  • Borrowing and research: MeLCat and Michigan eLibrary
  • Language learning: Transparent Language Online
  • Local history and research: Benzie County Logging Tapes, Research and Archives
  • Accessible reading: Talking Book Library
  • Community and learning links: Existing Links content and Michigan Learning Channel

Keep a prominent direct link to the external library catalog. Convert Michigan REAL ID information into a post linked from the appropriate resource section.

Computers and Technology Services

Keep Computers, Internet, WiFi, Copies and Faxes together. Include a clearly labeled link to the library’s Internet Policy.

Library of Things

Combine existing Library of Things content, Ice Skate Lending, and Videos and Handouts LT. Organize the page by available items, borrowing requirements, and supporting instructions.

Accessibility

Create a dedicated page featuring Listening Clarity Technology and other available accessibility information. Include an introduction and link to the Talking Book Library information on the Resources and Catalog page.

Youth

Expand the Youth page into the main destination for children’s and family programming. Include introductory sections and links to related posts.

Convert Summer Reading Program 2026, STEM Kits, STEM Kit Spotlight, Story Time at BPL, Tween Club, and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Benzie into posts. Feature STEM Kits, Story Time, and Imagination Library directly on the Youth page, with links to their full posts.

Keep a Benzie Sunrise Rotary Club overview page and create a separate post for each year’s book program. Link these annual posts from the overview page.

Donate and Friends of the Library

Use the existing Friends page as the foundation for the main donation and support page. Combine Friends information, existing Donations content, Annual Appeal, Endowment Fund information, and Donating Books and Puzzles. Clearly identify the recipient and purpose of each donation option.

Give Corner Book Shoppe and Book Sales its own prominent page and feature it on the donation page and homepage.

Include Mural Cards as a fundraising offering. Add a simple online ordering and payment method using PayPal, Venmo, or a small shopping cart, with clear delivery or pickup instructions.

Remembering Benzie

Keep Remembering Benzie as the main overview and archive for the completed history project. Convert each supporting page into a post:

  • Veteran’s History Project
  • Legacy Project
  • Final Project
  • Intern Team Year 1
  • Intern Team Year 2
  • History in the Making Year 1
  • Training Project Year 1 and 2
  • Community Story Gathering
  • Updates and PR

Organize these posts on the main Remembering Benzie page. Preserve photographs, interviews, video links, and project credits.

2 Website To Do List

Structure and Setup

  • Finalize the revised page names and navigation.
  • Create the Library News and Stories post listing page.
  • Create post categories for library news, youth programs, biographies, Remembering Benzie, and community resources.
  • Establish consistent post layouts for biographies, programs, and historical projects.

About and Administration

  • Merge About, History, 90th Celebration, and Renovations content.
  • Convert awards, Gianola Art, Museum on Main Street, Noteworthy features, and the centennial celebration into posts.
  • Consolidate trustee information onto the Board page.
  • Convert individual trustee biographies into posts.
  • Combine Annual Reports, Minutes, and Agendas into one organized document page.
  • Update Hours and Location.
  • Build the Newsletter page with archive and signup. – MAIL CHIMP
  • Reorganize Staff and Volunteers and convert individual biographies into posts.
  • Update Volunteer Opportunities.

Services and Resources

  • Build Get a Library Card from New Accounts.
  • Build Resources and Catalog and migrate the listed resources.
  • Consolidate general Links content into Resources and Catalog.
  • Create the Michigan REAL ID post.
  • Convert Book Club Kits into a post.
  • Combine Library of Things, Ice Skate Lending, and supporting instructions.
  • Create Accessibility and add Listening Clarity Technology.
  • Cross-link Talking Book Library from Accessibility.
  • Review technology service information and preserve the Internet Policy link.
  • Retain Michigan Activity Pass information.

Youth

  • Expand the Youth overview page.
  • Create posts for summer reading, STEM kits, Story Time, Tween Club, and Imagination Library.
  • Add featured program sections to the Youth page.
  • Organize the Rotary Club overview and annual book posts.

Donations and Book Sales

  • Build the combined Donate and Friends page.
  • Add Annual Appeal, Endowment Fund, and material donation information.
  • Prioritize the Corner Book Shoppe and Book Sales page.
  • Confirm mural card pricing, availability, and fulfillment.
  • Select and configure a simple mural card ordering and payment method.

Remembering Benzie

  • Update the main page to describe the completed project.
  • Convert all supporting pages into categorized posts.
  • Organize posts on the main project page.
  • Preserve and check interviews, videos, photographs, and credits.

Migration and Launch

  • Map every existing URL to its new page, post, or archive destination.
  • Add 301 redirects for moved or combined content.
  • Update internal links, menus, and homepage features.
  • Confirm current staff, trustees, program details, and resource links.
  • Check forms, newsletter signup, catalog links, and payment flows.
  • Review mobile layouts, accessibility, page titles, and SEO descriptions.
  • Generate and submit the updated XML sitemap.