The world of knowledge management is moving at a fast pace and it is challenging to keep up with trends that often demand investing in the latest tooling to solve increasingly complex semantic challenges. However, for many organizations, particularly non-profits, many advanced systems and solutions are prohibitively expensive. The YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) recognized a need to control their shared knowledge base and develop guidance around knowledge management without breaking the bank, and partnered with Enterprise Knowledge to develop custom taxonomies to be implemented in their existing systems. As they found, applying best practices in semantic modeling to existing systems can go a long way in improving the end user experience.
Bonnie Griffin (Enterprise Knowledge) and Miriam Heard (YMCA of the USA) shared their experiences leveraging taxonomy to improve functionality at the ASIS&T Information Science Summit and Special Libraries Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico on June 8th, 2026.
In their presentation, “A Practical Guide to an Intranet Remodel: Small Taxonomy Wins for a Big Impact,” Bonnie and Miriam provide an overview of how to approach a “taxonomy remodel,” following the analogy of a home renovation. They talk through the different phases of their taxonomy project, outlining their approaches to surfacing user needs, developing custom taxonomies, conducting validation activities, and establishing a flexible governance plan. Heard and Griffin also share how they fostered a partnership to create a system that stuck to the basics and accomplished a long-awaited taxonomy development goal, building a basis for sustainable knowledge management with modest tools and a grassroots group of passionate people.
Participants in this session gained insights into:
- How to identify when your organization is ready for a “taxonomy remodel”
- The stages of a “taxonomy remodel”
- How to navigate system limitations when upgrading to new tools isn’t in scope
- How to continuously secure stakeholder buy-in and prioritize end user benefits