Supported by the University of the Antilles and the University of Guyana, the Manioc portal aims to modernize the collaborative digital library dedicated to the cultural, scientific, and academic treasures of the Caribbean, Amazon, and Guiana Shield.
The Manioc digital and collective library
Created in 2009, the Manioc digital library accessible at manioc.org is much more than just a collection of documents. It’s a collective project that contributes to the preservation of heritage, promotes scientific research, and helps build the memory of tomorrow.
It’s a real digital treasure chest, with 20,000 documents online: books, articles, images, videos, audio, resulting from the digitization of partner library collections.
But after years of faithful service, with evolving technologies and growing content, it was time for Manioc to get a makeover with a complete overhaul of its infrastructure.
This is where we come in. Our team’s role: UX and UI design and Drupal development.
The main objectives of the project
- Showcase the collections: make content accessible, ensure strong SEO, and maintain compatibility with bibliographic data standards (RIS).
- Enhance the user experience: simplify navigation and meet the needs of both regular users in the front office and librarians in the back office.
- Opt for open source: because it’s more flexible and collaborative. The University’s independence is assured on the one hand, and on the other it can be integrated into the broader suite of free software tools (especially the ILS).
To achieve this, we mainly worked with two tools: Drupal for the public interface and Omeka S for document management.
Drupal and Omeka S, the winning combination for a digital library?
At any rate, that’s the bet the University of the Antilles has made!
On one hand, Drupal excels at creating complex websites, with advanced content management, customization, and interactivity features. It’s perfect for designing a rich and pleasant user interface.
On the other hand, Omeka S is an open-source platform designed for managing and sharing digital collections and their metadata, thanks to its support for standards like Dublin Core and JSON-LD. It makes structuring and distributing documentary resources easier.
By integrating Drupal for the user experience and Omeka S for collection management, you combine the best of both worlds: a dynamic, powerful, and intuitive site with a solid infrastructure to organize, preserve, and share digital resources.
A multisite and multi-domain Drupal portal
The project is based on a central collection made up of holdings from various partners, including local libraries.
Each participating library can showcase part of this shared collection while maintaining its own curated section, including mediation articles and personalized content.
By default, the interface displays resources specific to the library being consulted, while also allowing users to expand their search to the entire shared collection via the Manioc platform.
A powerful search engine serving the wealth of documentation
The database, rich in varied and substantial content, is therefore particularly large. This characteristic represented a challenge we had to adapt to:
- Mediation content: beyond standard documents, the search also highlights more immersive content such as images, videos, or audios.
- SolrR search engine: Autocomplete configuration, filters, facets, and advanced full-text search: finding a word in a PDF, an image, or even an audio file is possible!
- Optimized loading times: with such large databases, it wasn't an easy task. But our developers did everything they could!
Take care of the user experience
Modern PDF and IIIF Readers
We have integrated PDF and IIIF (International Image Interoperability Framework) readers for an enhanced visual experience. IIIF viewers offer, among other features, deep zoom and smooth navigation within high-resolution images.
A fun and educational section
Content in a more user-friendly format such as quizzes on the Caribbean and the Amazon, biographies to discover local figures, a focus on major events in local history, its landmark places, and more.
An intuitive back office
A professional space for the site administrators.
Advanced features for librarians
Such as exporting your bibliographies to Zotero (an open-source bibliographic reference management software), exporting in RIS format, saving content as favorites, managing them in your personal space, etc.
Technical challenges: performance and agile methodology
Integrating Omeka S with SolR, optimizing loading times, managing massive databases... It was no walk in the park.
We worked using an agile method, with well-paced sprints, and real flexibility to pivot as needs evolved.
Working on Manioc was like assembling a giant puzzle. We had to juggle technical requirements, partner expectations, and changing needs. In the end, we managed to create a high-performing platform for its density, meeting users’ needs and representing the territories it showcases.
A big thank you to all the partners and collaborators involved in this project. Manioc is the result of true teamwork.
Do you also want to modernize your digital project? Contact us!
Website URL: https://www.manioc.org/
Project dates: May 2020 - September 2024.
Go live: September 2024.
University of the Antilles, the Manioc digital library
For more information, you can consult our case study on the subject.
