This is a draft proposal that has not been approved by the United States Olympic Museum yet. Comments to efc@clst.org are welcome.

In December 2013 my father, Dick Celeste, called to ask for help with creating a website for the United States Olympic Museum. He said the museum, which is only in its formative stages at this time, needed a website that could both face the public and serve as an file sharing and exchange point for the developing project. I noted that these were two very different goals most likely best served separately. This project would focus on the first of these goals, a public-facing website.

Goals

This project would create a simple website that provides the public with basic information about the museum plans and development. It must be attractive and informative enough to satisfy potential donors. However, it is not attempting to be a fully functioning museum website. This is in some sense a placeholder for a future site that will complement the actual museum and its exhibits.

I propose that:

1. The website be based on WordPress or Squarespace to make it maintainable by an all-volunteer staff.

2. The website use a simple pre-existing theme, to be chosen by current museum leadership with my input.

3. The website be populated by content provided by museum leadership.

4. New stories be placed on the website over time by museum leadership and volunteers.

5. The museum retain my support services until sufficient support is provided by their volunteers.

Process

I plan to meet by phone with Dick and other museum leadership to discuss the pieces of information they feel must be present on the website. Together we will define the basic contents and navigation of the site. I will ask the leadership to send me documents that express this content, including text and pictures they would like to see on the site. We will make the determination of whether to use Squarespace or WordPress.

I will then assemble a draft site for review.

Once the draft site is ready, I plan to meet with the leadership again to walk through the site, take notes on desired changes, and provide a basic tour of functionality and maintenance requirements.

I will revise the site and create basic maintenance documentation.

I will provide training for up to two people in the maintenance of the site.

I will provide support for the site for as long as the museum would like.

Deliverables

Deliverable 1: draft site for review.

Cost: $2000

Timeframe: December 2013

This site will be fully functioning, but meant for review by the leadership team and further revision.

Deliverable 2: revised final website.

Cost: $1000

Timeframe: early January 2014

This site will be ready for public rollout.

Deliverable 3: training.

Cost: $500

Timeframe: January 2014

I will provide one hour of training for up to two people, making sure that they understand how the site works and what to do to change its content.

Deliverable 4: basic documentation.

Cost: $500

Timeframe: January 2014

This will be very basic documentation of the various accounts and credentials created to support the website. It will also cover basic procedures for editing content of the site.

Deliverable 5: ongoing support.

Cost: $200/month

Timeframe: February 2014 and beyond

Both WordPress and Squarespace are relatively easy to maintain, but I can help add content, troubleshoot, and enhance the site for as long as the museum likes.

Scope

The museum does not currently have an identity. This project will not create one. Since there is no logo for the museum, the website will use a professional and distinguished text treatment. If the museum engages a designer to create an identity during the timeframe of this project, then it can, of course, be incorporated into the website.

Costs

As a consultant, I do not charge by the hour. The services above will cost $4,000 plus whatever monthly maintenance is desired. I would send an invoice for the first $2,000 at the start of January 2014 and the next $2,000 at the start of February 2014. If the museum decided to retain my services for ongoing support, I would invoice $200 monthly starting in March 2014.

Eric Celeste

Eric brings over 15 years of library and 30 years of technology experience to his consulting. At MIT Eric shepherded the creation of DSpace, open source digital repository management software developed with HP and now deployed at hundreds of institutions worldwide. At the University of Minnesota Libraries he encouraged the development of the UThink blog service, a wiki-based staff intranet, LibData, and the University Digital Conservancy. He works with non-profit institutions on appropriate uses of technology for informing, communicating, and collaborating with their constituencies.