Through the years thousands have promoted the wise use of our natural resources in many ways. Some have been researchers, soil scientists, engineers, conservationists and district secretaries to name a few. Key to this effort has been the development and use of new methods of communicating information to the public. The Internet provides an exciting tool to fill the hunger the public has for information. Following are the thought processes we used in developing our web site.

What is the Internet?

The public hungers for information and they want it now. The internet offers a worldwide library of information (print, sights and sound) available 24 hours a day. But instead of the quiet, rigid card file or computer look up system setting of a library, the internet is more like a bookstore in a mall full of brightly colored publications. In a bookstore, a person walks in and freely browses from topic to topic. Often times the subject matter and book's cover draw a shopper to pick a particular book. The content and presentation persuade them to purchase the book. Keeping this in mind will make for a successful web site design.

Planned or targeted audience.

Only 3% of the population in the United States are producers of agricultural products. Most of them already access information concerning conservation and natural resource management through direct contact with our offices. Therefore the Shawnee Conservation District determined it's target audience was the other 97% of the population and schools.

What should be on the web site?

After some discussion, it was determined the information we wanted to present was already in our office. We had publications of all kinds, news articles, newsletters and color slides and prints that we used with our usual customers every day. That would be the information on our web site. Clear factual information about our natural resources.

Do it ourselves or contract it out?

Ultimate control over a project is obtained when you do it yourself. If you hire it done or find a volunteer to do the programming you still have to supply the information. It will cost $200 a web page and up. Since the district had someone willing to learn the HTML language it was decided to produce it in house. If you do your own programming please do some web browsing first. Note what features you like about different web sites and what you don't. Incorporate what you learn in the design of the page.

Pictures and graphics.

Use pictures and graphics only when necessary, to illustrate or make an idea clearer. Be cautious about JAVA scripts and the like. All of these types of things slow down the computer. Most web browsers will not tolerate slow screens and will merely move onto another site. Maybe have only special portions of your site with features that run slower.

Where to store your web site data.

If you become your own web server you have unlimited storage space. But you also must have special equipment, software, dedicated phone line and maintenance of the site that is your responsibility. This could be quite expensive. The district went with a local internet access provider to house the web site data.

Should every district be on the internet with their own web page?

The internet is a tool, merely one more means of communications. Does your target audience have ready access to the internet? In Shawnee county, access is readily available from several access providers. Most rural areas do not have local access phone numbers as of yet. In areas in a state with organized RC&D's or another entity that works with more than one county, they could be the hub for member counties. Should every district be on the internet? Yes. Email? Yes. Have their own web site? The answer is yes if you have information that your target audience can access. If not, your time and efforts may be spent best elsewhere.