While online exhibitions vary in complexity, basic tenets apply to the design of fluid, descriptive, and easily navigable displays. Build It Once: A Basic Primer for the Creation of Online Exhibitions explains these principles, as well as the basic structure for a flexible, easy-to-use exhibition format. Procedures describing how to design a simple format; how to create image and text files to populate the presentation; and how to develop handcrafted web pages used to display each item with its descriptive text or metadata are all included in this text. An overview of available technologies that can simplify and shorten the task is also provided. Build It Once will help readers create a reliable and easily modified exhibition format that follows the best basic standards and practices. Designed for the staff member faced with the challenge of creating high-quality online exhibitions with limited exhibit experience, technical support, and resources, this book of practices will enable even the most neophyte user to create web presentations that are straightforward, well designed, and potentially award winning.

"...provides a clear description..." - Canadian Library Journal

"An excellent resource for those who need to find out quickly and practically how to create an exhibition." - Zentralblatt für Geologie und Paläontologie, Vol. 68, No. 6 (June 2007)

"...this is the item of choice for any seeking a specific guide to producing online exhibitions." - California Bookwatch, October 2007

"The casual tone of this volume, the detailed step-by-step instructions, and the examples drawn from the online exhibitions of the Spencer Library, make readers feel that they are getting advice directly from someone who has been there and knows what she is talking about....This book is a useful guide to learning about specific features and advantages of Dreamweaver....This book shows exactly how the world of archives and special collections can thrive in the digital age and gain new audiences, and it provides basic standards and best practices anyone can use." - The American Archivist

"This slim reference from Thiel (digital imaging librarian at U. of Kansas) advises digital librarians at cultural institutions in the creation of attractive, effective online exhibitions. Advice focuses mainly on looks and function — defining exhibition impetus and audience, designing format, creating structure, and identifying table components are addressed, among other tasks. A brief tutorial in Dreamweaver and HTML is provided, but novice website designers may need additional instruction." - Reference and Research Book News, August 2007