Oklahoma Cultural Heritage Trust Website Notes First Draft 11/27/2012 BACKGROUND The Oklahoma Cultural Heritage Trust was formed in response to a national initiative funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) (www.imls.gov). The initiative, entitled “Connecting to Collections” is intended to raise public awareness of the importance of caring for collections found in archives, libraries, and museums and to underscore the fact that these collections are essential to the American story. The Oklahoma Cultural Heritage Trust (Trust) is an alliance between the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, the Oklahoma Historical Records Advisory Board, the Oklahoma Historical Society, and the Oklahoma Museums Association. Additional partners include the Oklahoma Arts Council, the Oklahoma Humanities Council, and Preservation Oklahoma. Through a competitive Planning Grant of $40,000 awarded to the Oklahoma Department of Libraries in 2010, the Trust’s partnering organizations gathered input through public meetings, summits with cultural organizations, and focus group discussions with stakeholders. The Trust conducted public opinion surveys and a statewide needs assessment survey of Oklahoma’s archives, libraries, and museums. Information gathered was compiled into a final report and action plan, which is attached to this report. In September 2012, Oklahoma was one of eight states awarded an Implementation Grant. The lead agency on the $245,000 grant is the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, with activities being executed by the unifying umbrella of the Oklahoma Cultural Heritage Trust. The project is co-directed by Susan Feller with the Oklahoma Department of Libraries and Brenda Granger with the Oklahoma Museums Association. Guidance is provided by a 30-member task force organized into eight working committees. For the next two years (2013-2014), the Trust will undertake specific activities, each designed to improve support for Oklahoma-based archives, libraries, and museums: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Collections Care Conferences (April 29-30, 2013 and 2014) Advocacy Call to Action: May Day Public Awareness Event at the Oklahoma State Capitol (May 1, 2013 and 2014) Preservation Road Show Event (April 30, 2013 and 2014) 10 Most Endangered Artifacts Campaign Collections Care Site Visits and Plans Endangered Heritage Traveling Exhibition A detailed description of each project is appended to this document. Wednesday, February 10, 2016, Oklahoma Cultural Heritage Trust, Susan Feller, susanfeller@msn.com Page 1 Supporting Website www.culturalheritagetrust.org To be successful, the work of the Trust must be supported by a dynamic website, for which an outline is supplied in this document. For branding purposes and to facilitate the sustainability of the Trust after the grant period, the website is not connected to any of the partner organizations but is a stand-alone site that the project managers and key project staff may access and make changes as necessary. Grant funds have been set aside for all expenses associated with the development and maintenance of the independent website. No state or partner funds will be used. Current Website The project began in 2010 with a $40,000 planning grant to the Oklahoma Department of Libraries from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. A basic project website was designed by Susan Feller, project manager, and developed with assistance from staff at the University of Central Oklahoma. The current site may be found at www.culturalheritagetrust.org. The website has been static since 2010 and is in serious need of updates. The domain has been maintained through fees paid by ODL from project funds. Future Website The current website needs to be migrated to a more robust Content Management System. While information from the existing site will remain in an archival capacity, the entire website needs to be revamped, with each of the projects requiring some type of presence on the site. It is envisioned that the website will consist of a masthead, top and bottom horizontal navigation, left navigation, a center section with text only and a right section with boxes highlighting a blog and perhaps some type of RSS feed. Options for site development and maintenance: Site is designed and maintained by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. The downside to this is limited availability of ODL staff to design and maintain the website, and concerns expressed by OMES of certain application software needed for efficient project management. Site is designed by Back Forty, the organization with which the Oklahoma Museums Association currently works. The downside to this is that Back Forty uses proprietary content management software that will require a substantial commitment after the project period ends. Site is designed and maintained by Amigos Library Services. Amigos has helped with another ODL project, providing site development and hosting at no charge, other than to be treated as a sponsor. It is possible that Amigos might consider hosting the Trust project site under the same parameters. Wednesday, February 10, 2016, Oklahoma Cultural Heritage Trust, Susan Feller, susanfeller@msn.com Page 2 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS (for discussion purposes only) Content Management System Host Operating System Web server software Database Scripting Blog Forms Administrators The preferred CMS is Drupal, an open source application that provides quick, code-free Web site creation. It allows a community of users to publish, manage, and organize content. www.godaddy.com is the current ISP Windows Internet Information Services (www.microsoft.com/iis) My SQL PHP (www.php.com) To inform constituents, promote events, share collection stories from behind the scenes, a “Collections Conversations” blog will be included. The blog will enable multiple authors — work group members, volunteers, and collections care experts to share stories, recognize efforts of funders and supports, and encourage people to volunteer, donate, and get involved in being better stewards of collections. Several platforms are under consideration, with WordPress, an open source blogging platform, in the lead. WordPress offers a scalable solution that allows multiple users to participate, while being overseen by a primary administrator. To collect and manage data online, i.e., event registration, program proposals, donations, committee sign up, and mailing list sign up, forms are used. The preferred method of managing forms is through a Formstack subscription that is $29 a month. Susan Feller, Project Director, Oklahoma Department of Libraries Haley Joines, Project Assistant, Oklahoma Department of Libraries Brenda Granger, Project Director, Oklahoma Museums Association Stacy O’Daniel, Administrative and Program Associate, Oklahoma Museums Association Wednesday, February 10, 2016, Oklahoma Cultural Heritage Trust, Susan Feller, susanfeller@msn.com Page 3 NAVIGATION/CONTENT MASTHEAD TOP Horizontal Navigation Buttons Logo Search Site Map Home About o History o o Current Activities Leadership o Media o LEFT Vertical Navigation Buttons Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Media Releases o Media Sign-up Form Resources o o o o o Cultural Champion Signup Council Member Signup Volunteer Signup Contribute Listserv Signup Mailing List Signup Contact Us Follow us o o Sponsor an Event Contribute to the care of an endangered item General contribution Get Involved o o o o o o BOTTOM Horizontal Navigation Buttons OMA, ODL, OLA, OCHT, other dates of events specific to collections care issues or archives, library, museum activities Contribute o o o Partners Management Team Council Members Cultural Champions Calendar o Planning Project Statewide Plan Collections Care Disaster Preparedness Funding Marketing and Public Relations Links to other C2C Projects Services o o o o Collections Conversations (listserv) Disaster Assistance Consulting Services Mentors Wednesday, February 10, 2016, Oklahoma Cultural Heritage Trust, Susan Feller, susanfeller@msn.com Page 4 Projects (Each navigation button will link to its own page) o Collections Care Conference Program Registration Form (linked to PayPal) Scholarship Form Sponsorship/Contribution Form Lodging Map to Location Planning Committee o Preservation Road Show Program/Schedule Conservator/Appraiser Biographical Information Registration Form (linked to PayPal) Sponsorship/Contribution Form Map to location Planning Committee o May Day at the Capitol Program/Schedule Talking Points for Advocates Registration Form Sponsorship/Contribution Form Map to location Planning Committee o Traveling Exhibition Exhibit Description Media/Local Marketing Kit Programming Exhibit Layout/Set up arrangements Sign-up Sheet for Tour Planning Committee o Collections Care Plan Program Description Application Sample Application Sample Report What to Expect Biographical Information on consultants Planning Committee o Needs Survey Links to past OK Collections Needs Reports Link to national report Link to current survey CENTER RIGHT Vertical BOTTOM Horizontal Descriptive Text Collections Conservations Blog News/RSS feed? Major Funding Provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (logo) Wednesday, February 10, 2016, Oklahoma Cultural Heritage Trust, Susan Feller, susanfeller@msn.com Page 5 Navigation Buttons Partners: Oklahoma Department of Libraries, Oklahoma Museums Association, Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma Historical Records Advisory Board (with links to each) Copyright statement Follow us o o o Media o Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Media Releases o Media Sign-up Form Wednesday, February 10, 2016, Oklahoma Cultural Heritage Trust, Susan Feller, susanfeller@msn.com Page 6 Websites from other IMLS-funded Connecting to Collections Statewide Projects *Blue listings are states undertaking Implementation Grants. White listings are states that have yet to receive an Implementation Grant. National program Online Community of the Connecting to Collections Program http://www.connectingtocollections.org/ Funder Connecting to Collections initiative http://www.imls.gov/collections/ State Project Name Website Arkansas Archives Rescue Project http://archives.state.ak.us/arc/ (website is not operational) Alabama Alabama Cultural Commons http://alabamaculturalcommons.org/ (website is not operational) Arkansas Preserve Arkansas Heritage Project No website Arizona Arizona Connecting to Collections No website California Californians Connecting to Collections Project http://calpreservation.org/cpp/projects/connecting-to-collections Colorado Colorado Collections Consortium No website Connecticut Connecticut Conservation ConneCTion www.conservationct.org Delaware Delaware Collections Stewardship Project http://state.lib.de.us/services/connecting_to_collections.shtml Florida Florida Connecting to Collections http://www.flamuseums.org/programming/c2c/ Georgia Healthy Collections Initiative ww.sos.ga.gov/archives/Healthy_Collections_Initiative/default.htm Illinois The Illinois Collections Preservation Network http://www.museum.state.il.us/research/ill-collection-connection.html Indiana Hoosier Heritage Alliance: A Partnership to Safeguard Indiana's Collections www.indianahistory.org/lhs/hha.html#hha Kansas Sustaining Kansans' Commitment to Collections by a Focus on Emergency Planning No website Kentucky Kentucky's Cultural Heritage: A Statewide Plan for Collections Assessment and Care http://history.ky.gov/sub.php?pageid=136&sectionid=13 Louisiana Louisiana Libraries Archives and Museums Preservation Project http://www.lsus.edu/offices-and-services/noel-memorial-library/librarycollections/archives-and-special-collections Minnesota Connecting to Collections/Minnesota http://www.mnhs.org/preserve/conservation/connectingmn/ Nebraska Husker Heritage Network http://www.nebraskahistory.org/connect/ New Jersey Implementation Grant No website as of 11.28.12 New Hampshire Find NH History http://findnhhistory.org/ Wednesday, February 10, 2016, Oklahoma Cultural Heritage Trust, Susan Feller, susanfeller@msn.com Page 7 Websites from other IMLS-funded Connecting to Collections Statewide Projects *Blue listings are states undertaking Implementation Grants. White listings are states that have yet to receive an Implementation Grant. New York Greater Hudson Heritage Network www.oce.nysed.gov/imls08/ North Carolina North Carolina Connecting to Collections http://c2c.ncdcr.gov/ http://www.ncecho.org/connectingtocollections/index.html Ohio Ohio Connecting to Collections http://oh.webjunction.org/ohconnectcollect Oklahoma Oklahoma Cultural Heritage Trust www.culturalheritagetrust.org Oregon Oregon Connecting to Collections http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/HCD/OHC/C2C.shtml Pennsylvania Connecting to Collections PA http://www.ccaha.org/services/special-projects/connecting-to-collections-pa South Dakota South Dakota Connects to Collections Project http://www.sdmuseums.org/connecting_collections.php Texas Connecting to Collections Texas https://www.tsl.state.tx.us/lrs/projects/connections-grant/index.html http://sites.google.com/site/texasctc/Home Utah A Statewide Preservation Initiative http://utahlibraries.org/2010/03/connecting/ Vermont Planning Grant http://vermonthistory.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=450 Washington Washington State Connecting to Collections http://www.sos.wa.gov/library/libraries/c2c/ West Virginia Planning Grant www.research.wvu.edu/wvu_research_corporation Wisconsin Planning Grant No website indicated Wyoming Wyoming Connecting to Collections http://wyomingcollections.wordpress.com/ Virginia Virginia Collections Initiative http://www.vamuseums.org Wednesday, February 10, 2016, Oklahoma Cultural Heritage Trust, Susan Feller, susanfeller@msn.com Page 8