Overview

What is Plinkit?

Plinkit is the web authoring environment that libraries in partner states/regional organizations use to create smart, new web sites for their patrons. Plinkit is built using Plone, an open-source content management system.  It was originally intended for public libraries only, but is now used by other types of libraries.

Library web sites are created and edited right through the web, using built-in text editors and other powerful features that make a tough job simple and give patrons a clean, usable, web site where the information delivery is the true and proper focus. Feel free to check out the demo version.

What is the Plinkit Collaborative?

The Collaborative is a membership organization (at the state/regional organization level) that formed in July 2006. The goal of the Collaborative is to provide Plinkit to libraries beyond Oregon (where Plinkit started) and to pool funds in support of software development, training, documentation, and marketing activities.

Who is currently involved?

Current participants in the Collaborative include: the Colorado State Library, Illinois Regional Library Systems, INCOLSA, Lyrasis, the Library of Michigan, Nebraska Library Commission, Oregon State Library, Texas State Library and Archives Commission and the Library of Virginia.

FAQ

Who can join?

Plinkit is open to state libraries and regional organizations.  If you are an individual library, please visit our contact information page to see who you should contact to get a Plinkit site.  If your state isn’t listed there, please let your state library know of your interest.

How can my state or regional organization participate?

The Collaborative Steering Committee will consider email letters of interest from any state library agency or regional organization at any time. We expect that regional organizations will consult with state library agencies in their region before sending letters of interest and coordinate with them before offering Plinkit to their members.

What does it cost to join the Plinkit Collaborative?

The annual membership fee is recalculated each year based on needs for the upcoming fiscal year.

What level of services does the Collaborative provide and what will our state or regional organization need to do?

Currently members are responsible for hosting their own server(s) and installing/configuring the Plinkit software. In addition to providing a Plinkit template for use, the Collaborative provides a Plinkit Administrator's Manual to each partner (online and PDF versions) as well as access to a mailing list and other online resources (preview) to help support the process of installing, configuring, and maintaining Plinkit.

Members also have the option of using a third-party hosting company. It is strongly recommended that the selected company be comfortable with installing and maintaining open source software and specifically that it has experience in hosting the Zope application server.

Members are also responsible for coordinating the deployment of Plinkit and training individual libraries in using and maintaining their individual Plinkit site. To assist with this, Collaborative partners also receive a copy of the Plinkit Training Manual (available in Word, PDF, and HTML formats) including future updates, etc.

Each member is expected to provide one representative to the Steering Committee, and the Project Coordinator’s Committee and the Technical Group.  They also need to provide at least two representatives from their state or region for the Advisory Group and should actively implement Plinkit in their area and pay their annual fee promptly.  Representatives to these committees should attend meetings, volunteer for projects and leadership positions, participate in software testing and the mentoring program, help answer listserv questions, market Plinkit as needed, meet deadlines when specified, share materials and ideas, exchange information, give input on software requirements and enhancements and survey their constituents.

Does the Collaborative provide centralized hosting and/or centralized technical support?

While this is not a service that the Collaborative currently provides it is not unreasonable to expect that the Steering Committee will discuss this possibility in the future.

What kind of people resources are required to implement and deploy Plinkit?

The number of people to manage Plinkit for your state or regional organization will depend to a large extent on the number of libraries you plan to have use Plinkit. Smaller areas may only need a half-time systems administration person (or less) to manage their initial Plinkit installation, ongoing support and upgrade tasks, and the creation of new Plinkit sites.

Similarly, depending on the deployment schedule you develop, another half-time person can market Plinkit and train library staff to update and maintain their individual Plinkit sites. For larger implementations and/or for aggressive schedules, more resources would be required.

Does the Collaborative provide any training?

Currently the Collaborative provides an electronic copy of the Plinkit Administrator's Manual to each partner. Additional resources (preview) and a mailing list are made available through the Collaborative website (access is limited to partners that join the Collaborative). If additional training is needed, there are a number of professional Plone instructors and consulting firms that will provide training.

Is it possible to pay extra to have the Collaborative provide technical support and training directly to our libraries?

While this option is not currently available it not unreasonable to expect that the Steering Committee will discuss this possibility in the future.

How can I keep up with project announcements, etc?

You can:

•    Visit the website regularly to check out the news and/or read our blog.

•    Subscribe to an RSS feed for announcements and/or the blog.

What Software Does Plinkit use?

Plinkit is based on Plone, an open source content management system. Plone is extremely flexible and customizable. In addition to the core features that come with Plone, a number of Plone Products (or "add-ons") and custom templates are used to create a full Plinkit site.

Plone itself makes use of the Zope application server -- a robust, well-supported open source software package written in the Python programming language.

What hardware does Plinkit require?

While the hardware requirements will depend somewhat on the number of Plinkit sites you plan to host you should expect to use a "robust" server. Something along the lines of a Dual 3 GHz XEON with 4GB of RAM with plenty of disk would be a reasonable set up. Plone (the software that Plinkit is based upon) is a resource-intensive CMS application – the more RAM you can configure your hosting server with, the better performance you will see.

What is the history of Plinkit?

In 2003, Plinkit began as a two-year LSTA grant, "InformACTion", with the goals of providing content management tools, great web site subject collections, and ways to deliver vital community information through small and medium-size public libraries in Oregon. InformACTion was supported in whole or part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Oregon State Library and sponsored by the Multnomah County Library under the direction of Eva Miller.

During this phase of the project, the hardware and software infrastructure was put in place, the initial Plinkit template and content were developed, and partner libraries were identified and trained to use Plinkit.

In the fall of 2005, the Plinkit project was transferred to Library Development Services of the Oregon State Library. Darci Hanning, the newly hired Technology Development Consultant, began her adventure with Plone and Plinkit. A technical evaluation of Plinkit was completed and work began in upgrading Plone, identifying and implementing content and template improvements, creating a training manual for library staff, and fleshing out the Oregon Plinkit site as a resource for library staff.