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Example Implementations of OST Components
Although all OST sites begin with the same components, each site customizes them to some degree. Some sites customize only the look-and-feel. Other sites have made significant enhancements to a component to change how it functions. Below are links to sites which serve as good examples of how to use each component.
Library (Document Management System)
- OSLSA has a good basic implementation. They have over 400 documents loaded.
- Indiana enhanced the library to integrated html pages (that open as part of the site instead of in a new browser window) and to display a list of articles and links related to the document being viewed.
- DNA-People's Law wanted to highlight a part of the library. So they included a direct link to that section (Court Forms) from the home page.
Calendar
- OSLSA displays the calendar entries indented under month names.
- DNA-People's Law uses the more common monthly display.
Smart Search
- HelpMELaw uses Smart Search extensively and gets a lot of traffic to this part of their site.
Jobs
Legal Services Directory
- Idaho expected a majority of traffic to this part of their website to be related to Domestic Violence. So, they customized the Legal Services Directory to specialize search results for Domestic Violence Shelters.
- Vermont customized the Legal Services Directory to differentiate Legal and Helpful (non-legal) organizations.
- Tennessee wanted to highlight legal service organizations so much that they implemented the Legal Services Directory with it's own URL and it's own graphic branding.
Desk Reference
- Most sites put the Desk Reference on the advocate portal behind a login. DNA-People's Law put it on the public side. They also customized it to handle their service area crossing state boundaries (notice the AZ and NM city lists).
Links
- Missouri has a standard implementation.
- Delaware shortened the list of link categories.
News
- Delaware is a good example of a standard implementation.
- Rhode Island chose to put news headlines on the home page.
Discussion/Interest Groups
- Just like the Desk Reference, most sites put Discussion/Interest Groups on the advocate portal behind a login. Again, DNA-People's Law put it on the public side. They also chose to highlight these areas, so they put links to them across the top of their whole website.
Membership and Security
- Most OST sites use a username/password combination to access the advocate part of their website. Once there, advocates see all the information on the advocate website.
- Wisconsin uses "Groups" in it's advocate website to limit which members can view which news items, calendar events and Library materials.
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