Plinkit is an open source content management system that has been developed so that even the smallest public libraries can have quality websites.  At present it is being deployed in Oregon, Colorado, Texas and Illinois.  The Plinkit Collaborative is made up of the state library agencies in the first three of these states, and a consortium of regional library systems in Illinois. 

The purpose of the Collaborative is to be able to pool our resources and work together to continuously improve the Plinkit software and to cooperate in other ways (e.g., user manuals, training, etc.). The cost to be a part of the Collaborative this year is $25,000 per state, and we expect to assess ourselves a similar amount in 2006-07. We work with a fiscal agent, BCR, in Colorado, to manage our finances.

If you are interested in exploring Plinkit, I suggest you go to our Collaborative website, http://www.plinkit.org/, and have a look around. Be sure to check out the "demo version" link on the "About" page.

If your state is interested in joining the Plinkit Collaborative in 2007-08, please send me a letter of interest by February 20, 2007.  Email will be fine!  In the meantime, if you or your staff have questions about Plinkit, please feel free to email them to me.

We would love to have "a few good states" join us next year to continue to expand the use and continue the development of Plinkit.

Sincerely,

Jim Scheppke, Chair
Plinkit Steering Committee
Oregon State Library
250 Winter St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-378-4367
(fax) 503-585-8059
jim.b.scheppke@state.or.us