New eCourse: Learn to build a website with Joomla!

CHICAGO - ALA Editions announces a new facilitated eCourse, Using Joomla! to Build Library Websites. Jon Fackrell, a librarian, Web developer and Joomla! expert, will serve as the instructor for this six-week facilitated eCourse. The course will begin on May 7, 2012.

Joomla! is a popular open source content management system (CMS) that allows users to build complex websites without extensive programming, making it perfect for library websites. In this introductory eCourse, Fackrell will guide participants in building an attractive, functional library website using Joomla! This test website will be hosted on a server for six months after the eCourse, facilitating additional learning. Whether the objective is a simple site or full-service digital branch, this eCourse will give participants the know-how to get a library website up and running.

Jon will introduce you to Joomla!, teach you how to set up and configure a site and give you the foundation for learning more.

Learning outcomes for this course:

• Functional knowledge of Joomla!
• Ability to build basic websites
• Experience in developing a fully functional Joomla! website hosted on a sandbox server (available for six months after the conclusion of the eCourse)
• Knowledge of resources for expanding the functionality of a Joomla!-based library website

Jon Fackrell is a mechanical engineer with an emphasis in design automation. He began designing and creating Joomla! websites for non-profit organizations in 2008 and moved on to programming custom Joomla! extensions. With experience creating websites from the ground up using PHP frameworks, he is proficient at HTML, CSS, PHP, Javascript and jQuery. He currently maintains the Joomla! site Reference Bytes, which includes his blog and additional information on Joomla! and libraries.

Registration for this ALA Editions facilitated eCourse, which begins on May 7, 2012, can be purchased at the ALA Store. Participants in this course will need regular access to a computer with an Internet connection for online message board participation, viewing online video, listening to streaming audio (MP3 files) and downloading and viewing PDF and PowerPoint files.

ALA Editions publishes resources used worldwide by tens of thousands of library and information professionals to improve programs, build on best practices, develop leadership, and for personal professional development. ALA authors and developers are leaders in their fields, and their content is published in a growing range of print and electronic formats. Contact ALA Editions at (800) 545-2433 ext. 5418 or editionscoursehelp@ala.org.

ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness, and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide.