Exploring Collection Builder

Building your own collection online!

Mahnoor Zahid '24, Mohamed Burbich '22

Project Overview

This project tests out Collection Builder, an online software that makes large collections without any coding experience. We tested it out to see of it to test how well this worked. Later, the steps and the experience were documented on this website.

What is CollectionBuilder?

Collection Builder is a website that helps create an online exhibit, or an online collection without coding knowledge. We use a website called GitHub pages to digitize objects easily, which allows us to create projects in a variety of contexts.

Jekyll (built into GitHub pages) is a static site generator that powers the CollectionBuilder. It transforms the folder of source code and metadata into a website. As a user, all you need to care about is the metadata (the CSV file). The rest is done by the existing template. The folders and files in GitHub pages are the template of the website. The languages used are HTML, CSS and JavaScript files. The website can hold up to 1GB.

How Can YOU use it?

This tool can be used by DePauw students and/or faculty. If you have an extensive collection which you may want to put on an online display, this is the perfect way. This builder processes data from a .csv file and makes it into a very visual and an elaborate online collection. Some ways this tool could be put to use is:

making a collection of the different books a department has
a list of your research papers and/or projects
making a portfolio
an online recipe collection (if you're feeling super unconventional)

Examples of Collections

Psychiana Collection

by Mohamed

Buildings at DePauw

by Mahnoor

Students & Their Computers

by Mahnoor

Page updated

Report abuse