SubjectsPlus: Take Control of your Data Andrew Darby University of Miami Libraries October 10, 2011.

SubjectsPlus:SubjectsPlus:Take Control of your DataTake Control of your DataAndrew DarbyUniversity of Miami LibrariesOctober 10, 2011

What is SubjectsPlus?What is SubjectsPlus?Helps you manage interrelated

parts of your website◦Subject or Course Guides◦A-Z List of Databases◦FAQs◦Suggestion Box◦Staff List

Brief HistoryBrief HistoryBegan life as Pirate Source,

developed by East Carolina UniversitySoftware “orphaned”; IC adopted it,

enhanced it, released (with permission from ECU) under GPL in 2005

1.0 Version released May 20111.0 rewritten “under the hood,”

proper internationalization support, enhanced functionality, etc.

Wait, What’s a Subject Wait, What’s a Subject Guide?Guide?Curated set of reliable resources

to orient a student or faculty member

Print vs. onlineDifferent approaches:

Comprehensive vs. targetedCourse guides vs. subject guides

Anatomy of a Guide: Anatomy of a Guide:

Top DatabasesTop Databases

Anatomy of a Guide: Anatomy of a Guide:

Contact PersonContact Person

Anatomy of a Guide: Anatomy of a Guide:

Catalog ResourcesCatalog Resources

Anatomy of a Guide:Anatomy of a Guide:

Databases & E-ResourcesDatabases & E-Resources

Other FeaturesOther FeaturesSome logically flowed from the

information being captured (A-Z List, Staff List)

Some were added at Ithaca College and shared (Suggestion Box, FAQs)

Other Features:Other Features:

A-Z ListA-Z List

Other Features:Other Features:

Frequently Asked QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions

Other Features:Other Features:

Suggestion BoxSuggestion Box

Other Features:Other Features:

Staff ListStaff List

I’m Sold; How Much?I’m Sold; How Much?Free and Open Source Software,

licensed under GPLOf course, there will still be some

costs: staff time and running/renting the web server.

Who’s Using SubjectsPlus?Who’s Using SubjectsPlus?35+ in North AmericaA few more in developmentOthers?

AlternativesAlternatives

Technical RequirementsTechnical RequirementsLAMP/WAMP setup:

•Linux (preferred) box•Apache Web Server•MySQL >= 4•PHP >= 5.2 (preferred)

Setup: Easy as 1 - 2 - 3Setup: Easy as 1 - 2 - 3

1. Install1. InstallDownload filesUnzip on serverEdit configuration fileCreate MySQL databaseCreate MySQL user/password

2. Customize2. Customize

Customize cont.Customize cont.

Customize cont.Customize cont.

2.5. What If I Have a 2.5. What If I Have a Problem?Problem?

3. Add Data via Admin3. Add Data via Admin

Example: Create GuideExample: Create Guide

1. Create Metadata1. Create Metadata

2. Add Content to Blank 2. Add Content to Blank GuideGuide

2a. Select Type of 2a. Select Type of ContentContent

2b. Drag/Drop to Desired 2b. Drag/Drop to Desired ColumnColumn

2c. Enter Content2c. Enter Content

2d. Enter More Content2d. Enter More Content

Drag in more boxes (say, Subject Specialist and Key to Icons)

Use buttons to insert content from elsewhere in SubjectsPlus—from A-Z list of Databases, documents, FAQs, links to catalog records

2d. Enter More Content 2d. Enter More Content cont.cont.

2e. Save2e. Save

2f. View Live2f. View Live

Thank You!Thank You!Questions?

Feel free to contact me for more information, agdarby@gmail.com

ResourcesResourcesWebsite: http://www.subjectsplus.com/Wiki: http://www.subjectsplus.com/wiki/Group:

http://groups.google.com/group/subjectsplusCode:

http://code.google.com/p/subjectsplus/downloads/list

Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/SubjectsPlus