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Movie Lists mini site

Fri, 2010-04-16 06:13 — mrweaver

Description

We get a lot of requests for movies by categories not easily gathered by the catalog, like movies based on graphic novels, or the "Scary Children" list that features "The Exorcist" and "The Ring," for instance. One of our librarians built a database in MS Access of these lists. I suggested we take that database and give it the Drupal treatment complete with a custom (zen) theme.

I wrote a custom script to import her Access database into a custom node module for the movie entries. We use cover art from Book Letters, so rather than download the images, the module uses image URLs to display covers, and links them to the catalog entry for the particular movie title for easy placing of holds, etc.

For easy addition of covers, a custom screen scrape incorporates the book cover search into the website and some javascript enables staff to click on a cover to add the URL to the node form (no copy/paste) as a block.

At the top of each lists, there is a download button where, via Views Export, the list is exported as a text file so either we can print off a copy to give to patrons, or obviously, they can have the list at home.

For each node, we have added links to related entries on Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB.com, and summary information from the catalog.

Beyond the custom theme and module, the site is basically nothing more than taxonomy and Views. It's a simple, small mini-site, run in a multisite setup. We have talked at using this as and basis for an online community, using Fivestar for ratings, and enabling comments for patron reviews/discussions. I know many public libraries have staff who keep various lists designed to meet local needs. This simple site shows that lost lists can be gathered and sharedvia an expedient, straightforward interface.

Matt Weaver
Web Librarian
Westlake Porter Public Library

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