Learn WordPress

What Do I Need to Know?

Fortunately, you don’t need to know everything to get started with a library website.  To get you started, we recommend the following options:

  1. Quick Start Guide: Learn the essentials to get up and running on your own (or a blend of on your own, and with help from Amanda).
  2. Over-the-Phone Setup & Orientation: Learn how to prepare materials so Amanda can get everything set up and organized. Then you will have an over-the-phone WordPress orientation to learn your new site.
  3. Refresher Tutorials: This collection of tutorials will tell you what you need to know you learn WordPress basics, or refresh yourself after an over-the-phone orientation.
  4. In-Depth Planning Guide: Use this if you have time time to plan and prepare in greater detail.

Quick Start Guide

Through the Nebraska Libraries on the Web, you will receive a free domain name, and the Nebraska Library Commission will handle the setup and maintenance on the back end. This means the security, spam blocking, and server stuff is magically done in the background.

To get started, email Amanda at amanda.sweet@nebraska.gov and let her know you want to start a website. She will make sure you are eligible, then start a basic template that can can customize.

Here’s what you would do to customize your new website:

  1. Website Content: Gather images and write content for the site.
  2. Look of the Site: Choose a WordPress theme (site layout).
  3. Home Page: Start a library blog or features page.
  4. Build Pages: Enter content/ images/ events into pages.
  5. Menu: Organize your pages in a navigation menu.
  6. Keep it Fresh: Update blog/ features every week or so.
  7. Optional: Explore Additional Features

Over-the-Phone Orientation

If you would like some help getting up and running, I am happy to help! Feel free to give Amanda Sweet a call at (402) 471-3106, or schedule a call at amanda.sweet@nebraska.gov and she will walk you through the steps. Here’s how it works:

  1. Plan content with Amanda’s guidance
  2. Amanda will email you a checklist of agree-upon website pages. You will be asked to write page content and gather images.
  3. Amanda will enter the information into the website and format the pages using the default template.
  4. You will get back on the phone for a WordPress orientation to learn how to make updates to your new website.

Refresher Tutorials

Here are some resources to get you started with the basics, or help refresh you on what was covered in your WordPress orientation:

New Gutenberg Editor:

The Gutenberg Editor is how you will add text, images, and content to your website. It’s called “new” because this version only started in December 2018. So if you are getting reacquainted with WordPress, take a look at this tutorial first.

Getting Started with WordPress Websites:

  • What is WordPress? And How Does it Work? Explained for Beginners (YouTube)
    • Side Note: Nebraska Libraries on the Web is self-hosted and you are provided with a domain name. You do have the option to purchase and use your own domain name.

Themes

This is the overall look of the website. It will indicate the layout of the sections of your website. Try these sources to learn more:

Blog Posts

By default, your blog page is the home page of your website. It is the first thing patrons will see. Your blog can be used to feature new materials, upcoming events, short story contests, and more. Learn more here:

Comments

By default, Blog posts allow patrons to make comments on each post. I recommend disabling these comments as many libraries do not have time to monitor every comment. Spam bots also like to make random posts on blog comments. So unless you monitor the blog, try disabling comments.

Pages

This is where all of your content is going to go. When you click on a navigation link in the menu across the top of your website, you are opening a page. So when you click “Contact Us”, a page will load. To add and update content, try these resources:

Menu

The menu is how people will find things on your website. Make sure you describe things clearly without using library jargon! Learn more about menus using these resources:

Adding Images

You can add images to blog posts and pages using these resources:

Sidebar (Widgets)

If you want to update the sections on the side of your website pages, go to the Widgets tutorial below.

Jetpack

If you want to access basic website analytics or integrate certain social media sites, check out Jetpack.

How to Get Jetpack on Your Site:

  1. Login to your WordPress Dashboard
  2. Click on Jetpack
  3. Click “Connect to WordPress.com”
  4. Set up a WordPress.com account
  5. You will now have access to Jetpack
  6. You should be able to view it through your usual WordPress login on the Jetpack tab.

WordPress Users

If you want to allow other library staff or volunteers to make changes to the website, you can add new users using these tutorials. The “Types of User” resource will help you decide what level of access the new user should have on the website.

In-Depth Planning Guide

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