[Hidden-tech] organizing an online library

[Rich Roth]

Interesting that Kelly would mention solr in this context, we too use solr for both simple
systems like this and
much bigger ones -- the key to using facets is that the solr engine does the grouping and
when you drill down
using specific facets or search terms, it will only show the facets that now apply.

For systems of the size you are talking about we use either joomla or Wordpress and
actually have an online service that runs the solr for you (since solr is a more complex
java based system that can run millions of documents or only a few hundred),
and includes plugins for both joomla and wordpress.

You can find the system with it's various examples and plugins at:
    http://www.solrhq.com

You can see a relatively simple example esp showing the faceting at: http://www.profsharon.net
        (Disclaimer - that is my wife's blog)

It has about 150 posts and uses the most obvious faceting for WP - categories and tags
Here is a simple example: http://www.profsharon.net/?s=museums
On the left you can see the facets for Categories and Tags that match post that are
applicable.
This was done using the wordpress plugin and solrhq -- out of the box.

For a custom system, you have very wide control over what are facets and how to display them,
you can use the existing plugins or tailor them as you need since the interface layer is
all in php.
You can start using our SolrHQ service and switch to your own install of Solr if needed.

Here is an example of a Joomla based biographical database of Shaker community members
that we are developing
with the Shaker community and various Shaker museums:
            http://www.shakerstudies.info/studies/brethren-search
It has a more custom 'google like' look.

In fact, I expect to have the HT archives indexed in Solr within the next few months,
giving us much better control then
the google search being used now.

Rich

On 8/22/2011 9:29 PM, Kelly Albrecht wrote:
>    ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>    ** If you did, we all thank you.
>
>
> Sounds like a good case for Solr search. You would enter each resource 
> into a CMS as content. You could then tag each resource with as many of 
> the relevant items (subject, grade level, expertise (beginner, 
> intermediate), etc.) as you see fit. You then connect that CMS to Solr 
> and each of these tags, and many other aspects of the resource, become 
> "facets."
>
> Facets are an awesome way to find what you are looking for. You may have 
> used facets to find what you were looking for on sites like New Egg, or 
> Lowes, or B & H Photo. Solr makes this possible.
>
> Personally I would use Drupal for this and connect it to Solr. Each 
> resource type would be a Content Type. Things like subject, grade level, 
> expertise (beginner, intermediate), etc. would be fields on each 
> relevant Content Type. Solr would take it from there (plus maybe a 
> little site design to get the user started).
>
> You can try out Drupal and Solr on Drupal's website drupal.org. Search 
> for something and the facets show up on the right side. When using Solr, 
> it is not required to start with a search either.
>
> I do think this is a little much for Wordpress, but others on the list 
> may have some good examples of Wordpress being a good fit. There is a 
> Solr plugin for Wordpress too.
>
> CHEERS!
> kelly
>
> On 08/22/2011 07:29 PM, Chris Landry wrote:
>>     ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>>     ** If you did, we all thank you.
>>
>>
>> Hey all,
>>
>> A client of mine wants to redesign a web site that contains a large number of educational resources: books, links, lesson plans, conference materials, book reviews, etc. I'm trying to help them think about how to do this.
>>
>> Not only are there lots of different kinds of materials, but there could be a number of possible ways to find the most relevant materials: subject, grade level, expertise (beginner, intermediate), etc.
>>
>> I'd love to see great examples of this kind of thing in WordPress, and/or suggestions about how to begin thinking of good organization of a diverse collection of online materials.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Chris
>>
>>
>> Chris Landry
>> Landry Communications
>> Tell Your Story. Change the World.
>> www.christopherlandry.com
>> c  413 522-2494
>> o 413 665-1123
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net
>> Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
>>
>> You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list.
>> If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members
>> page on the Hidden Tech Web site.
>> http://www.hidden-tech.net/members
> _______________________________________________
> Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net
> Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
>
> You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list.
> If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members   
> page on the Hidden Tech Web site.
> http://www.hidden-tech.net/members
>
>
> -- 
> Rich Roth
> Webmaster/Steering Committee Member
> Hidden-tech http://www.hidden-tech.net
> The Talent you need is right here,
> Join and share your skills
> ((Sponsored by Thrives Media))