Introduction Katherine Lynch Web developer Drexel University Libraries
Introduction • Katherine Lynch • Web developer, Drexel University Libraries • Libraries Website, catalog interaction • Drupal • Wordpress
What is Drupal? • Open-source • Content management system (CMS)
What is Drupal? • Open-source • Content management system (CMS) • Created in 2001 – PHP, database backend – Continuing development • http: //www. drupal. org • High profile site users – Whitehouse. gov
What can it do? • Edit your site from anywhere – Sites – Blogs – Forums • Interface with outside sources (RSS, social networking sites, etc • Highly customizable internals • Community support
What can it do? • Edit your site from anywhere – Sites – Blogs – Forums • Interface with outside sources (RSS, social networking sites, etc • Highly customizable internals • Community support
What can it do? • Edit your site from anywhere – Sites – Blogs – Forums • Interface with outside sources (RSS, social networking sites, etc • Highly customizable internals • Community support • Theme it any way you want
What can it do? • Page content – Appears on any one page, can be used on another page with Views – Stories • Text • Media • Feeds/dynamic information • Blocks – Static/dynamic information – Sections of information/navigation native to the site
Drupal sites • • • Universities Media sites Blogs News agencies Developers
Ubuntu
Linden Lab (developers of Second Life)
Lucas Arts Star Wars – The Old Republic
University of Colorado
Strayer University
Duke University
Stanford University Humanities Center
Reuters Labs
CNN Go
The Onion
What about libraries? • Catalog interface • Facilitate searching – Databases – Articles • Building information – Hours, phone numbers – Upcoming events (speakers, workshops) • Connecting students with librarians – Tutoring – Consultation – Reference Questions
What about libraries? Deliver resources to students.
What about libraries? How can Drupal help?
NYU Health Sciences Libraries
Simon Fraser University Library
Cowles Library, Drake University
Darien Library
Building Blocks of Drupal • CCK • Views
Building Blocks of Drupal • CCK – Content Construction Kit – Classify information in content upon creation
Standard Page create view Title, body, taxonomy enabled
“Library Staff” create view Created with CCK
“Library Staff” objects referenced Created with CCK
Systems Department staff objects Created with CCK
Systems Department staff objects Sorted by Library
Subject Librarians Services page Librarian object embedded in the page
Drexel@BCC Services page Librarian objects embedded in the page
Building Blocks of Drupal • Views • Sort and display information
Databases with Views Environmental Studies, “Recommended” and not Name, URL, notes, date range, description
Building Blocks of Drupal • Views – Pages – Blocks • Sorting – – Associated content Machine data Hidden content Build new content (resource links)
Building Blocks of Drupal • Views – Pages – Blocks • Sorting – – Associated content Machine data Hidden content Build new content (resource links) • But there is a problem…
Views new view dashboard WTF?
Building Blocks of Drupal • Views are:
Building Blocks of Drupal • Views are: – A way of displaying data on pages in Drupal without having to edit the HTML
Building Blocks of Drupal • Views are: – A way of displaying data on pages in Drupal without having to edit the HTML • Views can:
Building Blocks of Drupal • Views are: – A way of displaying data on pages in Drupal without having to edit the HTML • Views can: – Dynamically display data using logic built around facets of the relevant data
Building Blocks of Drupal • Views are: – A way of displaying data on pages in Drupal without having to edit the HTML • Views can: – Dynamically display data using logic built around facets of the relevant data – Expedite content management and updates
Building Blocks of Drupal • Views are: – A way of displaying data on pages in Drupal without having to edit the HTML • Views can: – Dynamically display data using logic built around facets of the relevant data – Expedite content management and updates – Open up your library’s resources to your students
Building Blocks of Drupal • Views powered by:
Building Blocks of Drupal • Views powered by: – Your content’s data
Building Blocks of Drupal • Views powered by: – Your content’s data • Machine-created – Timestamps – Authors • Common facets – Title – Content • Uncommon facets – CCK – Taxonomy
Building Blocks of Drupal • Roles – Admins • Content editors – Librarians • Developers – Coders – Librarians – Users • Patrons – Faculty – Students
Building Blocks of Drupal • Roles – Permissions – Create/edit – Delete • Own or others – Access • Certain types • Certain modules
Building Blocks of Drupal • Content Types – Site pages (sections) • Library services • Policies – Chunks of information • Staff members • Subscription databases • Collections
Building Blocks of Drupal • Taxonomy – Like tagging in Flickr!
Building Blocks of Drupal • Taxonomy – Like tagging in Flickr! – Further classify information, tells the system where, when, how to use it.
Building Blocks of Drupal
Communication • Librarians create the data and tell the system about it through content types, taxonomy, roles associated.
Communication • Librarians create the data and tell the system about it through content types, taxonomy, roles associated. • The student asks the system for what s/he needs.
Communication • Librarians create the data and tell the system about it through content types, taxonomy, roles associated. • The student asks the system for what s/he needs. • The system delivers data based on what the content creators have educated them about.
More features • Other modules: – SOPAC – MARC – EZProxy – LDAP – Biblio – Bookmarks – Fivestar rating – Google Analytics
SOPAC • Social Online Public Access Catalog • Uses locum to connect to catalog • Rich social interaction with catalog records – Reviews – Ratings – Backpacks
MARC • Import MARC records as nodes (data objects) into Drupal. • Fish 4 Info library portal • Recreate the catalog – Taxonomy – Types
EZProxy • Middleware to connect students with EZProxied data – Drupal login – “Access EZProxy” permission – External script (log in again to EZP) – CGI script (if already logged in to Drupal) – Ticket authentication (API) – Still fairly new, being debugged and experimented with.
LDAP Integration • Works with LDAP Provisioning module • Three-in-one: – Authentication – Groups (Drupal roles) – Data (read/write LDAP data from Drupal) • Use LDAP authentication to log in, create Drupal users to help minimize security threats on students’ data.
Bibliography • Accepts: – MARC, XML, End. Note Citations, more • Creates nodes – Exports as XML, Endnote, more (not MARC) • Outputs in many formats – MLA, APA, Chicago, IEE, more • Very recent security vulnerability discovered
More modules • Bookmarks – “Favorite” Drupal nodes • Public or private • Autopopulate for certain user types
More modules • Fivestar Rating – Rate nodes • Customizable visuals • Permissions and privacy
More modules • Google Analytics – Easily hook GA into your site – GA options customizable in the Drupal admin interface • • Outgoing links File downloads by type Allow users to opt out Restrict by type, page, etc.
In conclusion • Drupal’s native information architecture is immediately useful for bringing resources to students.
In conclusion • Drupal’s native information architecture is immediately useful for bringing resources to students. • There already many customizations, profiles, and modules specifically for library developers making Drupal sites.
In conclusion • Drupal’s native information architecture is immediately useful for bringing resources to students. • There already many customizations, profiles, and modules specifically for library developers making Drupal sites. • And if there isn’t…
In conclusion • …you can build it!
In conclusion • …you can build it! – Drupal is: • PHP • A database • Open source • Cleanly-written • Hugely supported by a community of developers
Thank you! • Resources: – http: //www. lullabot. com/ – http: //drupal. org/books/ • Contact me: – klynch@drexel. edu – http: //www. library. drexel. edu/ – http: //www. katherinelynch. org/ – @katelynch on Twitter
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