Aug 9, 2010
Today we officially launched the new website. In truth it's been online since May while we have been doing the development, but with this week being Toy Library Awareness Week and all, it's an appropriate time to start getting people using the site.
What's it about then?
We have some very specific goals for the website.
- We want to make it easier for members to use the toy library.
- We want to make it easier for families to join the toy library.
- We want to make it easier for us to run ane maintain the toy library
With these goals in mind, we have opened up the following areas of the website:
Toy database
We have been busy writing some software to connect our toy library database to the website database. The website is now kept up to date (mostly) with the latest stock information from the toy library. Ever wanted to know what toys we have? Or when a particular toy was due to be returned?
It's all here on our Toys Page.
Toys on hire
Members can also login to see what toys they have on hire, and when they are due back. Again, this information is synchronised with the toy library database regularly so the website is kept up to date. This information will also be used for sending out email reminders about toys that are due back - saving the toy library the cost of cellphone calls having the librarians do this job (and freeing up the librarians for more productive things).
Members - we are emailing out passwords Tuesday 10th August (providing your email address is up to date at the toy library).
Communication
Communication has been a bit of a problem in the past - a certain number of emails bounce every time there is a mailout, and phone numbers change etc. We'd really like to keep these details as up to date as possible so everyone can get the most from their toy library membership, and is aware of our fundraising events etc.
Members might have noticed the new-look newsletters that have gone out recently, expect to see a lot more integration between the newsletters and the website in the future.
We also have a Facebook page up and running - if you are a Facebook, plase help support the toy library by becoming a fan or sharing the link with anyone who might be interested.
Future plans
We'd like to offer a lot more through the website, and really, there is so much that is possible. We have plans in place for payment facilities for paying fees online via credit card, being able to reserve a toy online, and potentially even a duty roster. All pretty exciting stuff, and some of this will be a first for any toy library in New Zealand.
Our web developer
Harvey Kane is our committee member driving this initiative, and all work has been provided on a voluntary basis. Harvey happens to be a commercial web developer by trade, specialising in database-driven websites and online shopping carts.
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