diff --git a/SConstruct b/SConstruct
index 89602d3c7..b658d40fb 100644
--- a/SConstruct
+++ b/SConstruct
@@ -291,6 +291,8 @@ opts.AddVariables(
     ('CC', 'The C compiler used for configure checks of C libs (defaults to gcc).', 'gcc'),
     ('CUSTOM_CXXFLAGS', 'Custom C++ flags, e.g. -I<include dir> if you have headers in a nonstandard directory <include dir>', ''),
     ('CUSTOM_LDFLAGS', 'Custom linker flags, e.g. -L<lib dir> if you have libraries in a nonstandard directory <lib dir>', ''),
+    EnumVariable('LINKING', "Set library format for libmapnik",'shared', ['shared','static']),
+    EnumVariable('RUNTIME_LINK', "Set preference for linking dependecies",'shared', ['shared','static']),
     EnumVariable('OPTIMIZATION','Set g++ optimization level','3', ['0','1','2','3','4','s']),
     # Note: setting DEBUG=True will override any custom OPTIMIZATION level
     BoolVariable('DEBUG', 'Compile a debug version of Mapnik', 'False'),
@@ -393,6 +395,9 @@ pickle_store = [# Scons internal variables
         'LINKFLAGS',
         'CUSTOM_LDFLAGS', # user submitted
         'CUSTOM_CXXFLAGS', # user submitted
+        'MAPNIK_LIB_NAME',
+        'LINK',
+        'RUNTIME_LINK',
         # Mapnik's SConstruct build variables
         'PLUGINS',
         'ABI_VERSION',
@@ -597,6 +602,7 @@ def get_pkg_lib(context, config, lib):
     return libname
 
 def parse_pg_config(context, config):
+    # TODO - leverage `LDFLAGS_SL` if RUNTIME_LINK==static
     env = context.env
     tool = config.lower()
     context.Message( 'Checking for %s... ' % tool)
@@ -604,8 +610,8 @@ def parse_pg_config(context, config):
     if ret:
         lib_path = call('%s --libdir' % env[config])
         inc_path = call('%s --includedir' % env[config])
-        env.AppendUnique(CPPPATH = inc_path)
-        env.AppendUnique(LIBPATH = lib_path)
+        env.AppendUnique(CPPPATH = os.path.realpath(inc_path))
+        env.AppendUnique(LIBPATH = os.path.realpath(lib_path))
         lpq = env['PLUGINS']['postgis']['lib']
         env.Append(LIBS = lpq)
     else:
@@ -936,6 +942,11 @@ if not preconfigured:
     env['HAS_PYCAIRO'] = False
     env['HAS_LIBXML2'] = False
     env['SVN_REVISION'] = None
+    if env['LINKING'] == 'static':
+       env['MAPNIK_LIB_NAME'] = '${LIBPREFIX}mapnik2${LIBSUFFIX}'
+    else:
+       env['MAPNIK_LIB_NAME'] = '${SHLIBPREFIX}mapnik2${SHLIBSUFFIX}'
+
     
     env['LIBDIR_SCHEMA'] = LIBDIR_SCHEMA
     env['PLUGINS'] = PLUGINS
@@ -984,8 +995,8 @@ if not preconfigured:
     for required in ('PNG', 'JPEG', 'TIFF','PROJ','ICU'):
         inc_path = env['%s_INCLUDES' % required]
         lib_path = env['%s_LIBS' % required]
-        env.AppendUnique(CPPPATH = inc_path)
-        env.AppendUnique(LIBPATH = lib_path)
+        env.AppendUnique(CPPPATH = os.path.realpath(inc_path))
+        env.AppendUnique(LIBPATH = os.path.realpath(lib_path))
 
     conf.parse_config('FREETYPE_CONFIG')
 
@@ -1140,7 +1151,7 @@ if not preconfigured:
                 # Note, the 'delete_existing' keyword makes sure that these paths are prepended
                 # to the beginning of the path list even if they already exist
                 incpath = env['%s_INCLUDES' % details['path']]
-                env.PrependUnique(CPPPATH = incpath,delete_existing=True)
+                env.PrependUnique(CPPPATH = os.path.realpath(incpath),delete_existing=True)
                 env.PrependUnique(LIBPATH = env['%s_LIBS' % details['path']],delete_existing=True)
                 if not conf.CheckLibWithHeader(details['lib'], details['inc'], details['lang']):
                     env.Replace(**backup)
@@ -1369,7 +1380,7 @@ if not preconfigured:
             # as they are later set in the python SConscript
             # ugly hack needed until we have env specific conf
             backup = env.Clone().Dictionary()
-            env.AppendUnique(CPPPATH = env['PYTHON_INCLUDES'])
+            env.AppendUnique(CPPPATH = os.path.realpath(env['PYTHON_INCLUDES']))
             
             if not conf.CheckHeader(header='Python.h',language='C'):
                 color_print(1,'Could not find required header files for the Python language (version %s)' % env['PYTHON_VERSION'])
diff --git a/bindings/python/SConscript b/bindings/python/SConscript
index 9e1865f11..08183f85d 100644
--- a/bindings/python/SConscript
+++ b/bindings/python/SConscript
@@ -197,7 +197,10 @@ if env['SVN_REVISION']:
 
 if env['HAS_CAIRO'] or env['HAS_PYCAIRO']:
     # attach libs to _mapnik.so linking environment
-    py_env.ParseConfig('pkg-config --libs cairomm-1.0')
+    cmd = 'pkg-config --libs cairomm-1.0'
+    if lib_env['RUNTIME_LINK'] == 'static':
+        cmd += ' --static'
+    py_env.ParseConfig(cmd)
     env2 = py_env.Clone()
     fixup = ['mapnik_image.cpp','python_cairo.cpp']
     if not env['SVN_REVISION']:
diff --git a/plugins/input/gdal/SConscript b/plugins/input/gdal/SConscript
index c64f88c82..7f4113d48 100644
--- a/plugins/input/gdal/SConscript
+++ b/plugins/input/gdal/SConscript
@@ -33,16 +33,21 @@ gdal_src = Split(
   """
         )
 
-libraries = [env['PLUGINS']['gdal']['lib']]
+# clear out and rebuild libs
+plugin_env['LIBS'] = [env['PLUGINS']['gdal']['lib']]
 
 # Link Library to Dependencies
-libraries.append('mapnik2')
-libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
+plugin_env['LIBS'].append('mapnik2')
+plugin_env['LIBS'].append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
 
-input_plugin = plugin_env.SharedLibrary('../gdal', source=gdal_src, SHLIBPREFIX='', SHLIBSUFFIX='.input', LIBS=libraries, LINKFLAGS=env['CUSTOM_LDFLAGS'])
+if env['RUNTIME_LINK'] == 'static':
+    cmd = 'gdal-config --dep-libs'
+    plugin_env.ParseConfig(cmd)
+
+input_plugin = plugin_env.SharedLibrary('../gdal', source=gdal_src, SHLIBPREFIX='', SHLIBSUFFIX='.input', LINKFLAGS=env['CUSTOM_LDFLAGS'])
 
 # if the plugin links to libmapnik2 ensure it is built first
-Depends(input_plugin, env.subst('../../../src/${SHLIBPREFIX}mapnik2${SHLIBSUFFIX}'))
+Depends(input_plugin, env.subst('../../../src/%s' % env['MAPNIK_LIB_NAME']))
 
 if 'uninstall' not in COMMAND_LINE_TARGETS:
     env.Install(install_prefix + '/' + env['LIBDIR_SCHEMA'] + env['LIB_DIR_NAME'] + '/input', input_plugin)
diff --git a/plugins/input/geos/SConscript b/plugins/input/geos/SConscript
index 4d509734a..0c261cbbd 100644
--- a/plugins/input/geos/SConscript
+++ b/plugins/input/geos/SConscript
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ libraries.append('boost_filesystem%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
 input_plugin = plugin_env.SharedLibrary('../geos', source=geos_src, SHLIBPREFIX='', SHLIBSUFFIX='.input', LIBS=libraries, LINKFLAGS=env['CUSTOM_LDFLAGS'])
 
 # if the plugin links to libmapnik2 ensure it is built first
-Depends(input_plugin, env.subst('../../../src/${SHLIBPREFIX}mapnik2${SHLIBSUFFIX}'))
+Depends(input_plugin, env.subst('../../../src/%s' % env['MAPNIK_LIB_NAME']))
 
 if 'uninstall' not in COMMAND_LINE_TARGETS:
     env.Install(install_prefix + '/' + env['LIBDIR_SCHEMA'] + env['LIB_DIR_NAME'] + '/input', input_plugin)
diff --git a/plugins/input/kismet/SConscript b/plugins/input/kismet/SConscript
index 08198b54d..289a39618 100644
--- a/plugins/input/kismet/SConscript
+++ b/plugins/input/kismet/SConscript
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ libraries.append('boost_thread%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
 input_plugin = plugin_env.SharedLibrary('../kismet', source=kismet_src, SHLIBPREFIX='', SHLIBSUFFIX='.input', LIBS=libraries, LINKFLAGS=env['CUSTOM_LDFLAGS'])
 
 # if the plugin links to libmapnik2 ensure it is built first
-Depends(input_plugin, env.subst('../../../src/${SHLIBPREFIX}mapnik2${SHLIBSUFFIX}'))
+Depends(input_plugin, env.subst('../../../src/%s' % env['MAPNIK_LIB_NAME']))
 
 if 'uninstall' not in COMMAND_LINE_TARGETS:
     env.Install(install_prefix + '/' + env['LIBDIR_SCHEMA'] + env['LIB_DIR_NAME'] + '/input', input_plugin)
diff --git a/plugins/input/occi/SConscript b/plugins/input/occi/SConscript
index d81437c57..29e096491 100644
--- a/plugins/input/occi/SConscript
+++ b/plugins/input/occi/SConscript
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
 input_plugin = plugin_env.SharedLibrary('../occi', source=occi_src, SHLIBPREFIX='', SHLIBSUFFIX='.input', LIBS=libraries, LINKFLAGS=env['CUSTOM_LDFLAGS'])
 
 # if the plugin links to libmapnik2 ensure it is built first
-Depends(input_plugin, env.subst('../../../src/${SHLIBPREFIX}mapnik2${SHLIBSUFFIX}'))
+Depends(input_plugin, env.subst('../../../src/%s' % env['MAPNIK_LIB_NAME']))
 
 if 'uninstall' not in COMMAND_LINE_TARGETS:
     env.Install(install_prefix + '/' + env['LIBDIR_SCHEMA'] + env['LIB_DIR_NAME'] + '/input', input_plugin)
diff --git a/plugins/input/ogr/SConscript b/plugins/input/ogr/SConscript
index d0eaa01ae..20e803a3c 100644
--- a/plugins/input/ogr/SConscript
+++ b/plugins/input/ogr/SConscript
@@ -36,18 +36,22 @@ ogr_src = Split(
   """
         )
 
-libraries = [env['PLUGINS']['ogr']['lib']]
+plugin_env['LIBS'] = [env['PLUGINS']['ogr']['lib']]
 
 # Link Library to Dependencies
-libraries.append('mapnik2')
-libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
-libraries.append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
-libraries.append('boost_filesystem%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
+plugin_env['LIBS'].append('mapnik2')
+plugin_env['LIBS'].append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
+plugin_env['LIBS'].append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
+plugin_env['LIBS'].append('boost_filesystem%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
 
-input_plugin = plugin_env.SharedLibrary('../ogr', source=ogr_src, SHLIBPREFIX='', SHLIBSUFFIX='.input', LIBS=libraries, LINKFLAGS=env['CUSTOM_LDFLAGS'])
+if env['RUNTIME_LINK'] == 'static':
+    cmd = 'gdal-config --dep-libs'
+    plugin_env.ParseConfig(cmd)
+
+input_plugin = plugin_env.SharedLibrary('../ogr', source=ogr_src, SHLIBPREFIX='', SHLIBSUFFIX='.input', LINKFLAGS=env['CUSTOM_LDFLAGS'])
 
 # if the plugin links to libmapnik2 ensure it is built first
-Depends(input_plugin, env.subst('../../../src/${SHLIBPREFIX}mapnik2${SHLIBSUFFIX}'))
+Depends(input_plugin, env.subst('../../../src/%s' % env['MAPNIK_LIB_NAME']))
 
 if 'uninstall' not in COMMAND_LINE_TARGETS:
     env.Install(install_prefix + '/' + env['LIBDIR_SCHEMA'] + env['LIB_DIR_NAME'] + '/input', input_plugin)
diff --git a/plugins/input/osm/SConscript b/plugins/input/osm/SConscript
index 26a9ecbd7..bbdcfb66f 100644
--- a/plugins/input/osm/SConscript
+++ b/plugins/input/osm/SConscript
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
 input_plugin = plugin_env.SharedLibrary('../osm', source=osm_src, SHLIBPREFIX='', SHLIBSUFFIX='.input', LIBS=libraries, LINKFLAGS=env['CUSTOM_LDFLAGS'])
 
 # if the plugin links to libmapnik2 ensure it is built first
-Depends(input_plugin, env.subst('../../../src/${SHLIBPREFIX}mapnik2${SHLIBSUFFIX}'))
+Depends(input_plugin, env.subst('../../../src/%s' % env['MAPNIK_LIB_NAME']))
 
 if 'uninstall' not in COMMAND_LINE_TARGETS:
     env.Install(install_prefix + '/' + env['LIBDIR_SCHEMA'] + env['LIB_DIR_NAME'] + '/input', input_plugin)
diff --git a/plugins/input/postgis/SConscript b/plugins/input/postgis/SConscript
index f92ff019d..18ae8e73f 100644
--- a/plugins/input/postgis/SConscript
+++ b/plugins/input/postgis/SConscript
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ if env['THREADING'] == 'multi':
 input_plugin = plugin_env.SharedLibrary('../postgis', source=postgis_src, SHLIBPREFIX='', SHLIBSUFFIX='.input', LIBS=libraries, LINKFLAGS=env['CUSTOM_LDFLAGS'])
 
 # if the plugin links to libmapnik2 ensure it is built first
-Depends(input_plugin, env.subst('../../../src/${SHLIBPREFIX}mapnik2${SHLIBSUFFIX}'))
+Depends(input_plugin, env.subst('../../../src/%s' % env['MAPNIK_LIB_NAME']))
 
 if 'uninstall' not in COMMAND_LINE_TARGETS:
     env.Install(install_prefix + '/' + env['LIBDIR_SCHEMA'] + env['LIB_DIR_NAME'] + '/input', input_plugin)
diff --git a/plugins/input/raster/SConscript b/plugins/input/raster/SConscript
index 84285d10f..211e5c6fc 100644
--- a/plugins/input/raster/SConscript
+++ b/plugins/input/raster/SConscript
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ libraries.append('boost_filesystem%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
 input_plugin = plugin_env.SharedLibrary('../raster', source=raster_src, SHLIBPREFIX='', SHLIBSUFFIX='.input', LIBS=libraries, LINKFLAGS=env['CUSTOM_LDFLAGS'])
 
 # if the plugin links to libmapnik2 ensure it is built first
-Depends(input_plugin, env.subst('../../../src/${SHLIBPREFIX}mapnik2${SHLIBSUFFIX}'))
+Depends(input_plugin, env.subst('../../../src/%s' % env['MAPNIK_LIB_NAME']))
 
 if 'uninstall' not in COMMAND_LINE_TARGETS:
     env.Install(install_prefix + '/' + env['LIBDIR_SCHEMA'] + env['LIB_DIR_NAME'] + '/input', input_plugin)
diff --git a/plugins/input/rasterlite/SConscript b/plugins/input/rasterlite/SConscript
index 7cf3cf28f..5dfd4c49c 100644
--- a/plugins/input/rasterlite/SConscript
+++ b/plugins/input/rasterlite/SConscript
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ libraries.append('boost_filesystem%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
 input_plugin = plugin_env.SharedLibrary('../rasterlite', source=rasterlite_src, SHLIBPREFIX='', SHLIBSUFFIX='.input', LIBS=libraries, LINKFLAGS=env['CUSTOM_LDFLAGS'])
 
 # if the plugin links to libmapnik2 ensure it is built first
-Depends(input_plugin, env.subst('../../../src/${SHLIBPREFIX}mapnik2${SHLIBSUFFIX}'))
+Depends(input_plugin, env.subst('../../../src/%s' % env['MAPNIK_LIB_NAME']))
 
 if 'uninstall' not in COMMAND_LINE_TARGETS:
     env.Install(install_prefix + '/' + env['LIBDIR_SCHEMA'] + env['LIB_DIR_NAME'] + '/input', input_plugin)
diff --git a/plugins/input/shape/SConscript b/plugins/input/shape/SConscript
index c1077c69d..821f48b35 100644
--- a/plugins/input/shape/SConscript
+++ b/plugins/input/shape/SConscript
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ if env['SHAPE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE']:
 input_plugin = plugin_env.SharedLibrary('../shape', SHLIBSUFFIX='.input', source=shape_src, SHLIBPREFIX='', LIBS = libraries, LINKFLAGS=env['CUSTOM_LDFLAGS'])
 
 # if the plugin links to libmapnik2 ensure it is built first
-Depends(input_plugin, env.subst('../../../src/${SHLIBPREFIX}mapnik2${SHLIBSUFFIX}'))
+Depends(input_plugin, env.subst('../../../src/%s' % env['MAPNIK_LIB_NAME']))
 
 if 'uninstall' not in COMMAND_LINE_TARGETS:
     env.Install(install_prefix + '/' + env['LIBDIR_SCHEMA'] + env['LIB_DIR_NAME'] + '/input', input_plugin)
diff --git a/plugins/input/sqlite/SConscript b/plugins/input/sqlite/SConscript
index 938a1b1f0..b91af964d 100644
--- a/plugins/input/sqlite/SConscript
+++ b/plugins/input/sqlite/SConscript
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ libraries.append('boost_filesystem%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
 input_plugin = plugin_env.SharedLibrary('../sqlite', source=sqlite_src, SHLIBPREFIX='', SHLIBSUFFIX='.input', LIBS=libraries, LINKFLAGS=env['CUSTOM_LDFLAGS'])
 
 # if the plugin links to libmapnik2 ensure it is built first
-Depends(input_plugin, env.subst('../../../src/${SHLIBPREFIX}mapnik2${SHLIBSUFFIX}'))
+Depends(input_plugin, env.subst('../../../src/%s' % env['MAPNIK_LIB_NAME']))
 
 if 'uninstall' not in COMMAND_LINE_TARGETS:
     env.Install(install_prefix + '/' + env['LIBDIR_SCHEMA'] + env['LIB_DIR_NAME'] + '/input', input_plugin)
diff --git a/src/SConscript b/src/SConscript
index 93f52ef0c..ceb38ef34 100644
--- a/src/SConscript
+++ b/src/SConscript
@@ -224,7 +224,10 @@ if env['SVG_RENDERER']: # svg backend
 if env['HAS_CAIRO']:
     # attach libs to library linking environment
     try:
-        lib_env.ParseConfig('pkg-config --libs cairomm-1.0')
+        cmd = 'pkg-config --libs cairomm-1.0'
+        if lib_env['RUNTIME_LINK'] == 'static':
+            cmd += ' --static'
+        lib_env.ParseConfig(cmd)
         env2 = lib_env.Clone()
         env2.Append(CXXFLAGS = '-DHAVE_CAIRO')
         # attach cflags to specific compile environment
@@ -264,7 +267,13 @@ if env['CUSTOM_LDFLAGS']:
 else:
     linkflags = mapnik_lib_link_flag
 
-mapnik = lib_env.SharedLibrary('mapnik2', source, LIBS=libraries, LINKFLAGS=linkflags)
+if env['LIBMAPNIK_LINKFLAGS']:
+    linkflags = '%s %s' % (env['LIBMAPNIK_LINKFLAGS'],linkflags)
+
+if env['LINKING'] == 'static':
+    mapnik = lib_env.StaticLibrary('mapnik2', source, LIBS=libraries, LINKFLAGS=linkflags)
+else:
+    mapnik = lib_env.SharedLibrary('mapnik2', source, LIBS=libraries, LINKFLAGS=linkflags)
 
 if env['PLATFORM'] != 'Darwin':
     # Symlink command, only works if both files are in same directory