Click here for online instructions and tutorials for PLOW Websites
Concrete 5 for PLOW Libraries
Concrete5 Offers Intuitive, Responsive Websites
The State Library and SILO are introducing a new website platform for PLOW libraries that receive free website hosting from the State Library.
The new platform runs on Concrete5 and will offer a fresh, modern appearance, easy to use editing tools and offers many benefits for libraries, including:
- Visual and intuitive editing
- Fewer steps to add content
- WYSIWYG editor plus drag-and-drop capabilities
- Responsive website for mobile and tablet users
Any public library in Iowa can receive a new Concrete5 PLOW website free of charge, and any current website can move over from Plone, the current platform for PLOW websites, to a new Concrete5 website. Because Concrete5 is an entirely different platform, no old content will be carried over to the new website. This will require library website editors to begin with a fresh Concrete5 layout and theme, building the new library website up from scratch.
The new websites will continue to be hosted and supported by SILO, which will also continue to host Plone websites indefinitely. However, Plone cannot currently be updated, so the system will need to be taken down at some point in the future if and when it becomes unsupported or a security concern is raised. Therefore, current PLOW libraries are encouraged to move forward with the new Concrete5 website platform sooner rather than later.
Concrete5 Training Information
Concrete5 is easy to use but works differently than Plone, so library website editors will need training on how the system works.
Here is a recorded webinar that provides a tour of the Concrete5 platform, including a demo of a new PLOW library website with a walk-though of the pages and the way they are organized, and also a brief presentation on current best practices for websites.
Link to recorded webinar 55 minutes
Sneak peek!
See how a library’s new website can look in this sample site created with Concrete5: Anytown Public Library
Are you ready to get a NEW PLOW Web site?
Contact a District Library Resource Tech to request a new PLOW website. A PLOW website can be created and delivered at any time. The District LRT will assess your library's readiness and make the necessary preparation for the new website.
To participate in the program, your library must:
- Have high speed Internet access and continue to pay for it
- Complete the required training
- Be able to devote at least one staff hour per week to maintain and update your Web site
If you have questions please contact Marie Harms, 800-248-4483 or marie.harms@iowa.gov
The Web site and e-mail hosting service is provided free of charge for Iowa public libraries that:
- Want to improve library service to their community by having their own Web site, but don’t know how
- Already have a Web site and want to make it even better
- Want to manage their own e-mail accounts and offer library staff and trustees their own e-mail address
The Web sites are preloaded with a variety of local information specific to each library, including links to local catalogs, location, hours, contacts, and trustees. Library customers will also have access to state-wide resources, such as EBSCOHost and FirstSearch databases, through their local library’s Web site. As library staff members are trained and become comfortable with their library’s Web site, they will be able to add their own content.
Through the e-mail hosting service, each public library will be able to have consistent and stable e-mail addresses and manages their own accounts.
In addition, there is technical support provided by the district library resource techs and available to public libraries by phone, e-mail and some in-person visits. Training is provided with remote computer sharing, phone and e-mail, through once-a-month webinars, individual in-person training at your library and in-person classes for hands-on learning.