Using Manakin to Expand the Capabilities of DSpace Repositories

Manakin is DSpace's new interface toolkit and its default interface as of DSpace version 1.5. DSpace is deeply embedded in the liberal arts college community with at least 35 campuses in the NITLE Network having adopted this software. Many other campuses have tested DSpace for possible deployment. (See the master list of global DSpace campuses, which includes the LASR and NITLE collaborative repositories. The Tri-Colleges -- Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Swarthmore -- also have a DSpace repository.)

Manakin allows for a variety of possibilities, including:

• radical skinning or "theming" of individual collections or items
• integration of interactive, in-page media viewers and functionality (e.g., zoom-and-pan for digital images, in-page video players for video, etc.)
• integration or removal of new page elements into DSpace (e.g. adding information sidebars, new metadata fields, or removal of the same)
• a way to provide static pages

Screenshot:
An example of Manakin from the Geologic Atlas of the United States collection at Texas A&M, the developers of Manakin.

The example shows a DSpace collection interface that uses spatial metadata to position DSpace collection items on a map. For an example of Manakin use by a liberal arts college, see Eric Luhrs work at Lafayette College.

These interventions come at a cost though: while Manakin provides a standardized and non-invasive way of adding functionality to DSpace, it still involves working with code (in this case, XML, XSL, HTML, and CSS). So what are the capabilites and costs?

Get Involved

NITLE has committed to help answer a few questions by working with Manakin:

• What are the opportunities for liberal arts college repositories?
• Can we estimate the costs associated with developing Manakin themes?
• Is it possible for our campuses to work together to share Manakin themes?

NITLE will develop 1 - 2 themes, and in August, via our DSpace Repository e-mail list, invited campuses for input on valued new functionality to contribute or test these themes. Please expect reports on this work in the coming months. If you would like to provide additional input or participate in testing, please contact Eric Jansson.