Koha customisationswww.calyx.net.au

Pasifika Koha WorkshopSeptember 10, 2012University of the South PacificLaucala Campus, Suva, FIJI.

Use your Koha!

DIY: How to make your Opac unique?

Customising your Koha OPAC is easier than you think....

Professional Koha hosting & support companies can provide you with an amazing OPAC, but DIY is always more fun, you can learn fun new skills (and amaze your colleagues). You need:- access to a Koha admin interface and the OPAC- have superlibrarian permissions- a stable internet connection- a test system or a not yet live Koha system- time and curiosity

In this presentation

- we use Koha 3.8.4 - older Koha systems have different system preferences, so please check the online manual- HTML language to format text- the free w3school.com website to test our HTML - the Koha online manual is your good friend!- all HTML code used in this presentation, is available to copy and share - ask me for a handout!

Overview of Koha's OPACCheck out the customisable fields on your OPAC with the name of the corresponding system preference.

OpacNav

This is where you put useful links, relevant information you want your patrons to find easily: library instructions, opening hours, the location of the library, the postal address and other important information.

OpacNavBottom This is a good location to add useful links to different collections, organizations, or even to a short video on how to use your new Opac

OpacNav

OpacNavBottom

OpacHeader

The top of your Opac site is always visible. It is a good idea to put here the name of your library, the logo, or image you use to identify your library. Keep in mind: this is a long, narrow space - long, narrow images work best. OpacHeader is also an excellent location to put the Google Analytics code if you are signed up for it.

OpacMainUserBlock

This is the prime location on your OPAC site. This location attracts the most attention, so you want to keep it as interesting as you can. - You can use the News feature to inform your patrons of library related news- With some help from your support company you can show the newest/most popular titles available from your library- Ask for custom RSS feeds!

OPACUserCSS

This is a very powerful field if you know CSS. If you don't, just stick with this easy solution to change the colour of the banner on your OPAC.h1#libraryname {width:220px;}h1#libraryname a {padding:100px 0 0;width:220px;}#fluid {margin-left: 224px;}#opac-main-search {background-image:none;background-color:#000000; }

Editing the highlighted number in the code will determinate the colour of your banner. This link may help you determine which colour is the best match for your library logo.

OPAC before and after Little changes make a big difference!

Websites used in this presentation

● http://manual.koha-community.org/3.8/en/impopac.html

● http://www.w3schools.com/html/tryit.asp?filename=tryhtml_intro

● http://www.w3schools.com/html/● demo384.calyx.net.au ● demo384-admin.calyx.net.au (anne + koha)

● http://www.degraeve.com/color-palette● http://www.myacpl.org/koha/

http://koha-community.orgwww.calyx.net.au

Sample HTML for OpacNav

<table width="92%" border="0"> <tr align="center"> <th>Opening Hours</th> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td>Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday<br>9.30am - 5.00pm</td> </tr><tr align="center"> <td>Saturday<br>9.00am - 12.00pm</td> </tr><tr align="center"> <td>Closed Wednesdays, Sundays and Public Holidays</td> </tr><table width="92%" border="0"> <tr align="center"> <th>Contact information</th> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td><a href="http://goo.gl/maps/McTtb">42 The Road, Sydney, NSW 2000</a></td> </tr><tr align="center"> <td>Ph: +61 123 456 789 </td> </tr><tr align="center"> <td><a href="mailto:enquiries@calyx.net.au?">enquiries@calyx.net.au</a></td> </tr>

Sample HTML for OpacNavBottom<table width="92%" border="0"> <tr align="center"><tr align="center"> <th>Useful links</th> </tr><tr align="center"> <td><a href="http://trove.nla.gov.au">National Library of Australia: Trove</a></td> </tr><tr align="center"><td><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFgpH3YVwiI" target="_blank">How to use this site? </a></td> </tr><tr align="center"><td> <a href="http://koha-community.org">Koha Library Software Community </a></td> </tr>

Sample code for OPACUserCSS

h1#libraryname {width:220px;}h1#libraryname a {padding:100px 0 0;width:220px;}#fluid {margin-left: 224px;}#opac-main-search {background-image:none;background-color:#000000; }

Is that it?Actually no : there is a lot more to it

Let's explore a few of the many system preferences that will tune your Koha ...

By deciding on the values to give to various system preferences

...What an incredible opportunity we have... to really

Use our Koha..... Below are a few system preferences as examples ..........Go to Home > Administration > System preferences.....

Administration preferences: noItemTypeImages and virtualshelves ...Cataloguing preferences: hide_marc and ISBD ...OPAC preferences: BibliodDfaultView and Opaclayoutstylesheet ...Staff client preferences: intranetstylesheet ...|18N/L10N preferences: OpacLanguages and opaclanguagesdisplayEnhanced content preferences: OPACFRBRIZEEditions and Google Jacket and localCoverImages and Tagging .....and more ....

Another Koha bonus?

Simple, cool and effective customisations can be easily and accurately maintained and carried forward during

upgrades.

Keeping your OPAC up to date

Making your OPAC unique

www.calyx.net.au

"Customisations" also relates to larger opportunities ....

In the education sector for example: New ways of learning are changing universities and libraries need to lead the way with improved collection accessCAUL : The Committee of Australian University Librarians mission statement says: Improving access by the staff and students of Australian universities to the information resources that are fundamental to the advancement of teaching, learning and research. www.caul.edu.au/about-caul/caul-strategic-plan

Our patrons choose the time, place and device to interact with our content ....and go elsewhere

Koha customisation is about

● enhancing the out of the box OPAC● user centered design, usability● indexing to enable the most effective discovery● achieving value from usage Web OPAC measurement ● speed & responsiveness when searching and placing holds● the way search results and bib records appear in the OPAC● patron's self management online● improved services for our patrons

AND● it’s about business optimisation● understanding our goals ● understanding the needs and expectations of our

audience ● and reducing the gap in between.

www.calyx.net.au

Questions and Comments?

Feedback to Irma@calyx.net.au

Thank you for your interest.Vinaka

www.calyx.net.au