Let's Hack a Collaborative Website

Presenters

Kate Bronstad, Web Developer, Tisch Library, Tufts University; Heather J. Klish, Systems Librarian, Tufts University; and Junior Tidal, New York City College of Technology

Onsite Contact

Dana Miller, Head of Metadata and Cataloging, University of Nevada, Reno

About the Class

In this hackathon attendees will learn to use the Bootstrap front-end framework and the Git version control system to create, modify and share code for a new library website. Expect a friendly atmosphere and a creative hands-on experience that will introduce you to web literacy for the 21st century librarian. Morning will consist of in-depth introductions to the tools, while afternoon will see participants split into working groups to build a single collaborative library website.

What is Bootstrap?

Bootstrap is an open-source, responsive designed, and front-end web framework that can be used to create complete website redesigns to rapid prototyping. It is useful for many library web applications, such as customizing LibGuides (version 2) or creating responsive sites. This workshop will give attendees a crash-course into the basics of what Bootstrap can do and how to code it. Attendees can work individually or in teams.

What is git?

Git is an open-source software tool that allows you to manage drafts and collaboratively work on projects - whether you’re building a library app, writing a paper, or organizing a talk. We will also talk about GitHub, a massively popular website that hosts git projects and has built-in features like issue tracking and simple web page hosting (like this very page you are reading).

Additional resources

Bootstrap, LibGuides, & Potential Web Domination - Discussion of the use of Bootstrap at the Van Library, University of St. Francis

Libraries using Bootstrap

Presenter Bios

Kate Bronstad (kate.bronstad@tufts.edu) is a librarian-turned-web developer for Tufts University’s Tisch Library. She works with git on a daily basis and teaches classes on git for the Boston chapter of Girl Develop It. Kate is originally from Austin, TX and has a MSIS from UT-Austin.

Heather J. Klish (heather.klish@tufts.edu) is the Systems Librarian in University Library Technology at Tufts University. Heather has an MLS from Simmons College.

Junior Tidal (jtidal@citytech.cuny.edu) is the Multimedia and Web Services Librarian and Assistant Professor for the Ursula C. Schwerin Library at the New York City College of Technology, City University of New York. His research interests include mobile web development, usability, web metrics, and information architecture. He has published in the Journal of Web Librarianship, OCLC Systems & Services, Computers in Libraries, and code4Lib Journal. He has written a LITA guide entitled Usability and the Mobile Web published by ALA TechSource.

Originally from Whitesburg, Kentucky, he has earned a MLS and a Master’s in Information Science from Indiana University.

Library Code Year Interest Group

This program was put together by the ALCTS/LITA Library Code Year Interest Group which is devoted to supporting members who want to improve their computer programming skills. Find out more at http://www.ala.org/lita/about/igs/codeyear/jnt-lcy.