Libraries often don't have the in-house knowledge or expertise to design, redesign, or build their own website. Recently, a number of open-source-based initiatives have popped up to help out. Some of these initiatives are geographically bound, but you can still benefit from their work by taking a look around their offerings and current sites.
Drupal-based
Drupalib is a "place for library drupallers to hang out" and they have a list of library websites using Drupal. There's also a drupal4lib email list. Librarian in Black has a great blog post about building, and getting help with library websites built with Drupal. ALA also published Drupal in Libraries as a TechSource publication. Finally, Meredith Farkas blogged about teaching online with Drupal.
SOPAC, "the social OPAC," is a drupal-based application suite and "an open source social discovery platform" for bibliographic data. Their site aims to build a cohesive community of users and developers around the SOPAC project suite. SOPAC is supported by the your library site product from Craftysite (a commercial vendor).
If a library is in Idaho, they can get a website for free through “e-Branch in a Box”. You can also check out their current sites.
In Missouri, libraries can apply to participate in a pilot program, Real EZ, to get a website through the state library.
Plone-based
In Oregon, Colorado, Illinois, or Texas, public libraries can get a free website through the Plinkit collaborative in their state. Scroll down to Partner Sites on the left-hand side to find each state’s Plinkit site and contact info.
In Iowa, they have PLOW (Putting Libraries on the Web) that provides websites and e-mail services to public libraries.
In British Columbia, public libraries can access PLOT [Public Library Online Templates], a PLONE-based effort to assist libraries with web development/content management started by the Public Library Services Branch.
Joomla-based
Joomla in Libraries is an online community for articles and help with joomla-based library sites. Check out their showcase area for links to libraries using Joomla.
WordPress-based
Many library websites are also built on WordPress, which started as a blog software but can now be used as a full content management system (CMS). Visit our group WordPress for Libraries or check out this list of library websites using WordPress.
Some of the content in this article was originally posted as a comment on this post at David Lee King's blog. Please post additional initiatives or efforts that you're aware of as a comment to this article so we can keep it updated.
And check out our open source software section for more information about how libraries are using open source.
