Small/rural public libraries don’t have the money, resources or time to learn HTML, CSS, Dreamweaver, FTP, or just about anything else. And sadly, they never will.�
If If ““DeweyDewey”” were a were a volunteervolunteer……
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That website with the black background and twinkly stars? Next, they used a volunteer who created a pretty good website BUT…�
““Hit & RunHit & Run””
VolunteersVolunteers
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…it was developed in Cold Fusion. The volunteer is long gone and now the library is only marginally better off than they were before. They can’t fix any problems and they can’t extend the functionality. So, how can we help these libraries? In Oregon, we came up with…�
Our SolutionOur Solution
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“Plinkit” – Public Library INterface KIT Uses Plone, an open source software content management system Does the heavy lifting for all the features you get with Plinkit Content re-use, access control, and workflow A new Plinkit site comes with built-in content which can be modified, updated, or removed �
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http://www.waldportlibrary.plinkit.org/ So easy: navigate to the page, click on login, enter username/password, then click on the edit tabl�
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Interesting and useful features: Pre-built websites for public libraries / Pre-loaded with “library” content For library staff: “In-place” editing, web-based editing, content that is automatically updated For patrons, remote access to databases, events calendar, RSS feeds, random quotes, photo gallery, more Free hosting, training, and support �
A Little bit of A Little bit of HistoryHistory
Multnomah County Multnomah County Library wanted a Library wanted a
Dynamic Cool Dynamic Cool WebsiteWebsite
Goals were to provide:Goals were to provide:•• content management toolscontent management tools•• great web site subject collectionsgreat web site subject collections•• ways to deliver community information ways to deliver community information through small and mediumthrough small and medium--size public size public libraries in Oregon libraries in Oregon
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Development Began as a two-year LSTA grant in Oregon (“InformACTion” in 2003) Coordinated by Multnomah County Library by Eva Miller Wanted a dynamic website themselves; once developed, it would be share with any public library who wanted it Zope (application server developed in Python) then Plone (CMS on top of Zope) selected Ten pilot libraries participated initially�
Wanted Wanted Dynamic Cool Dynamic Cool
WebsiteWebsite
Wanted centralized Wanted centralized CMS for all CMS for all departmentsdepartments
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Along came the County… �
Multnomah County Multnomah County LibraryLibrary
OregonOregon State LibraryState Library
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Fully transitioned to the Oregon State Library Fall 2005 Analysis of design to date Coming up to speed on Plone Redesign, upgrade, soft launch in early Spring 2006 Provided user’s manual �
ZopeZopeZMIZMI
PythonPython
PlonePloneTemplates Templates & CSS& CSS
ZODBZODB
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Lots of pieces in the Plone puzzle; individually, they can be pretty straight-forward to understand/use. In total, a bit overwhelming.�
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The ZMI (Zope Management Interfaced, pronounced “zimmy”) for web-based control and development (both a blessing and a curse). Development or customization via the ZMI is also known as “through the web” (TTW) development.�
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Through the Web (TTW) development – using the “custom” folder. Great for learning and prototyping. For long term development or if you need to replicate entire sites, best to move to File System based development as soon as possible.�
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Concept of explicit content types: News Items, Images, Events. Different properties, each instance is an object that can be manipulated. This makes it possible to pick out all the “News Items” and display them in a portlet, to create a “photo album” by selecting an image-based “view” for a folder full of Images, and to pick out all of the Events to display. �
Security & WorkflowSecurity & Workflow
CreateCreate EditEdit
PublishPublish
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Security and workflow define Who can do What, Where and When on the site. Plone’s security model is directly based on Zope and can be defined down to the element level (e.g. an in put field on a form).�
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Hundreds of add-ons (“Products”)�
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CSS for look/feel. Can change a Plone site from this to…�
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This…�
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Or this.�
Friendly CommunityFriendly Community
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Developers and users alike hang out on IRC (“chat room”) for “real-time” support and design/implementation discussions. There are also mailing lists and local user groups around the world.�
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Documentation has reached critical mass. Capacity to deal with new major releases of Plone has increased. Now… on to PLINKIT:�
Designing for TwoDesigning for Two
•• PrePre--loaded with contentloaded with content•• One step publishingOne step publishing•• StaffStaff--only areaonly area•• Different access levelsDifferent access levels•• Additional functionalityAdditional functionality
•• Traditional contentTraditional content•• events, programs, etcevents, programs, etc
•• Focus on remote accessFocus on remote access•• Databases, Online RefDatabases, Online Ref
•• Localized contentLocalized content
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Library Staff Preloaded content, pertinent to public libraries. “About Us” is the area that library staff focus on; then adding News Items and Events. Expand from there after these basics are taken care of. Plone’s default workflow has several “states”. Modified for one-step publishing. Staff-only area is a web-based intranet; used primarily in larger (e.g. county) systems. “Editor” controls all content; “Staff” can read/add to “Staff Area”; others can only read. For more advanced staff, additional features/functionality �
Designing for TwoDesigning for Two
•• PrePre--loaded with contentloaded with content•• One step publishingOne step publishing•• StaffStaff--only areaonly area•• Different access levelsDifferent access levels•• Additional functionalityAdditional functionality
•• Traditional contentTraditional content•• events, programs, etcevents, programs, etc
•• Focus on remote accessFocus on remote access•• Databases, Online RefDatabases, Online Ref
•• Localized contentLocalized content
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Patrons Overall design philosophy: provide patrons information resources/services through their local library website: Link to virtual reference service Local copy of Open Directory Project (http://dmoz.org) Remote access to databases, incl. link K-12 interface/website Localized information (photo gallery, “address book”) Traditional content as well: events and programs, materials, about us, announcements. �
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Some great built-in Plone features: Real time, full-text indexing of all content, “live search” for results All search results generate an RSS feed for Plinkit, the events and news folders are “search results” of those types RSS (outgoing) can be set up on any folder Blogging add-ons available�
Plone Plone ““ProductsProducts””
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Products to provide additional functionality - weather portlet, incoming rss feeds/display, calendaring, forums, online address book.�
Custom PortletsCustom Portlets
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Fairly easy to modify default templates for “tweaking” plone.org provides a number of “how-tos” for customizing portlets Random photos, random quotes, library catalog, and portlets that can be edited by library staff.�
Custom TemplatesCustom Templates
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Fairly easy to modify default templates for “tweaking” adapted Maine’s “library use value calculator” Took full advantage of TTW development via the ZMI Downside to this: better to move to “file system” development sooner rather than later, especially in the case of “replicating” the same site repeatedly �
Collaboration among Collaboration among StatesStates
Fall 2006 – Infrastructure and training for collaborative
Winter 2007 – Admin Manual and other documentation
Spring 2007 – Decision to continue collaborative, roll-outs begin
Summer 2007 – 50 sites and counting, new development
Ten Oregon libraries pilot Plinkit – 2004
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Summer 2006 - Colorado, Illinois, Texas join Plinkit Collaborative Fall 2006 - infrastructure and training Winter 2007 – administrator manual and other documentation Spring 2007 – decision to continue, new development with priorities, states rolling out web sites to libraries and training rural libraries Summer 2007 – more web sites, more development, new MOU among states �
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Structure Member-based funded Steering Committee (one from each partner state) Project Coordinators Technical Group Users Advisory Group�
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Activities Training Documentation State level templates Development (locally and with Plone Consultants) Support �
QuotesQuotes““I was glad to be able to see how easily we can maintain I was glad to be able to see how easily we can maintain things.things. Your training didn't scare me, left me feeling confident in Your training didn't scare me, left me feeling confident in just that short time that I can do this!just that short time that I can do this!”” -- Library Staff MemberLibrary Staff Member
The website looks amazing. What an improvement over what we The website looks amazing. What an improvement over what we had before. Thank you! had before. Thank you! -- Library DirectorLibrary Director
We have the site loaded on our public computers as the start up We have the site loaded on our public computers as the start up website. Every day, we find something new that looks better all website. Every day, we find something new that looks better all the the time.time. --Library DirectorLibrary Director
I just wanted to acknowledge the extreme benefit this will make I just wanted to acknowledge the extreme benefit this will make to to our libraries and our communities.our libraries and our communities. Thank you to the State Library Thank you to the State Library for providing this service.for providing this service.-- Library DirectorLibrary Director
Penrose, ColoradoPenrose, Colorado
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In Penrose Colorado. (Look at the arrow pointing to the “O” and “R” and you will see where Penrose Colorado is.)�