Notes

• Not all Webmasters perform all duties listed below. I perform or have performed all duties except for programming and systems administration. Mic Kaczmarczik and other members of the Computation Center UNIX Group perform all hardware and software maintenance for the central server. So, this server has two Webmasters.

• We work with TeamWeb, volunteers from the Computation Center, General Libraries, and Data Processing who support and promote Web use and Web publishing on this campus.

• Additionally, over 200 colleges, academic departments, administrative units, research centers, and student organizations publish over 35,000 pages on the central server. Each one of those groups has a Webmaster.

• Finally, there are about 225 Web servers on this campus. Each server has its own Webmaster.

Writer

• The Web delivers information in many packages: graphical, audio, and video. However, the written word remains an important part of very Web.

• A Webmaster must be capable of creating pages and writing content. TeamWeb has created over 1,600 pages of content for this university's Web, its publishers, and its users.

• So, a Webmaster must feel comfortable in a word processor and must be able to generate HTML with translation programs and write HTML from scratch.

• The Webmaster must be willing to create and maintain pages temporarily, until staff in appropriate departments are able to assume responsibility.

Editor

• The UT Web is this university's primary interface to the Internet.

• It functions as one, giant, electronic publication.

• It has thousands of contributing authors.

• It can either look at feel like a thousand unrelated, unconnected, uncoordinated publications, or, it can look and feel and act like one.

• The Webmaster must function as managing editor.

Designer and Organizer

• Pages. Page design must be consistent, simple, and logical. It should not be a distraction.

• URLs. You must be able to easily communicate verbally and in print the URLs to every page that you create. What are the components of a URL? The host name and the directory path on that host to the HTML file.

• Directory structures. The names and structures of your Web directories are reflected in your URL. Names should be short and descriptive. The structure should be as wide and shallow as possible.

• Cross navigation. There should be no dead-end pages.

• Overall structure of site should reflect the university's organiation, user demands, and intuitiveness.

Programmer, System Administrator

• Maintain the server hardware and software.

• Write and install programs that add features and services in demand by publishers or users.

• Solve all techincal programs.

Teacher, Consultant, Speaker

• Answer server e-mail. The central server receives 200 to 300 questions a month.

• Teach and speak to users and publishers at all skill and experience levels.

Manager

• Web support is a team effort. A Webmaster must lead that team.

• A Webmaster must be a project manager.

Coordinator, Collaborator, Communicator

• Coordinate services for publishers and users.

• Integrate the pages that publishers produce.

• Help set publishing guidelines and policies.