=== Collections Base Lite === Contributors: markorangeleafcom Donate link: http://orangeleaf.com/ Tags: collections base, museums, archives Requires at least: 3.0.1 Tested up to: 3.4 Stable tag: 1.0 License: GPLv2 or later License URI: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html The collections base lite plugin provides a simple search and display of records held in the Orangeleaf Systems Ltd Collections Base repository. == Description == The collections base lite plugin provides a simple search and display of records held in the Orangeleaf Systems Ltd Collections Base repository. This is a repository of Museum, Archive and Local History data from around the UK. It currently (as at 20120925) holds ~2 million records crosswalked to spectrum XML from all of the major collections management systems. CollectionsBase is a suite of specially developed web applications that enable the large scale aggregation, indexing and integration of a wide set of digital heritage data. This data can come in many forms, from many different systems: Archive data from Axiell CALM, HER data from Exegesis, Museums data from Adlib and MODES to name a few. The system can extract from SQL Server, Access and Excel based databases of metadata. CollectionsBase helps people to be actively engaged with digital heritage material via web sites, subject specialist micro-sites, crowd-sourced commenting and tags, social media, apps and multiple other platforms.

Extraction and Conversion Module

Data is loaded by the museums, archives and local history organisations themselves via a simple browser uploader. Each organisation has a custom data extraction and conversion module that transforms the data into the common interchange format. This is a loss-less transform: we ensure all data is harmonised to the interchange, we don't 'dumb down' to simpler metadata. The conversion module can be updated during the lifetime of projects as fields change or are updated in the source Collections Management System.

Aggregation and Indexing

CollectionsBase uses a distributed set of load balanced dedicated servers to aggregate and index the collections data on a massive scale. Whilst distributed, the indexing is monolithic: data searches can now be across project boundaries.

Search Presentation Interfaces

We couple the search and response into WordPress presentation layers using our own specialised WordPress Plugin: CollectionsPress. CollectionsPress provides multiple facet browsing, simple keyword and advanced multi-field search, Boolean search, spelling and thesaurus supported search, dynamic AJAX style search suggestions, timeline based search and full map search with postcode, point and bounding box.

Developer's API - Attribution Non-commercial

Should you want to go beyond websites, into mobile, iPhone, iPad, Augmented Reality, in gallery touchscreens then our Developer's API provides both an OpenSearch RSS, GeoRSS, GeoJSON, OAI and AR application programming intefaces. CollectionsBase is being used by a number of web developers to deliver museums, archives and local history searches into their own presentations: we're more than pleased to work with other developers and designers. Although configurable, by default partners using CollectionsBase have their metadata exposed via the APIs under a Creative Commons Atttribution Non-commercial as per Heritage Lottery Fund policy.

Open Archives Initiative Interface

CollectionsBase is onwardly harvested via its OAI-PMH interface and aggregated into the UK national service: CultureGrid , by Collections Trust. We are Collections Trust Partners.

Maps, GIS, Geospatial display Module

Our CollectionsPress WordPress plugin provides full web map serving capabilities using both WMS and WFS with full display of complex geometry for archaeology data. It provides a photographic overlay for geocoded archive, museum and HER photos related to records.

User Generated Content Module

Revisit your collections data with the help of our User Generated Content integration plugins. Connect WordPress, Facebook, Twitter commenting to your collections data.

Archive Catalogue View Module

CollectionsBase with CollectionsPress provides a full archive catalogue view with recursing series, subseries, item display over an intuitive, dynamic interface that's easy for users to understand but powerful for advanced researchers. The search interface can accomodate All Text, Full Text, Boolean complex search queries.

Builds long term stability into your offering

CollectionsBase helps you retain the investment you've made in your existing Collections Management System: there is no need to change it to another system. CollectionsBase can help smooth the transition path between Collections Management Systems: using persistent identifiers that hide the underlying technology, you can swap out your Collections Management System without affecting your audiences, links, mobile applications and web sites.

Client Short List

We have 49 organisations using CollectionsBase. A shortlist includes: Shropshire Archives, Museums, Historic Enviroment Record, East Lothian Archives, Museums, Historic Enviroment Record, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall Archives and Museums, Coventry Archives, The Herbert Museum, Staffordshire Archives, Stoke Museums, Surrey History Centre, Museums, HER...

What clients are saying about CollectionsBase

The system works well; staff don't need to be IT wizards and now that the system is all set up and running smoothly, each partner uploads their data on an 'as and when' basis so that they are in control of what data goes onto the websites and when.

Typical Prices

The initial cost is determined by the complexity of your exports, whether any data 'cleansing' needs to occur, and whether you are using a bespoke or an 'off the shelf' Collections Management System. We've already worked with most UK Collection Management System vendors and their systems' outputs. Please contact us on 01743 352000 or using our contact form and we'll provide more information on CollectionsBase == Installation == This section describes how to install the plugin and get it working. 1. Upload 'plugin-name.php' to the '/wp-content/plugins/' directory 2. Activate the plugin through the 'Plugins' menu in WordPress 3. Add the shortcode [collectionsbase_lite] with any required attributes to the page where you want the display to appear. Supported attributes are: * partner: Results are filtered by the given partner code * project: Results are filtered by the given project code * images: If this is set then only records with images will be returned * query: A search to prepopulate the listing with (if this is specified, no for will display) Currently supported project codes (as at 20120925) * BCH: Black Country History (10 partners) * CFTF: Connecting for the Future (9 partners) * DSH: Shropshire History (7 partners) * ESP: Exploring Surrey's Past (6 partners) * HELO: Heritage East Lothian Online (5 partners) * COV: Coventry (3 partners) * GWY: Gwynedd Collections (1 partner) == Frequently Asked Questions == None yet == Screenshots == 1. Search results listing 2. Get record display == Changelog == = 1.0 = Created == Upgrade Notice == None yet