The summer of new themes rolls on. This week we launch Emiglio, in honor of our favorite walking, talking robot. It’s a brand new layout, so give it a whirl. Head over to the theme directory, or download it directly here.

This week, learn how to install an Omeka plugin.
Earlier on the blog we talked about using Sitenotes, and this tutorial shows you how to install that plugin.

The installation process is the same for all plugins, but be sure to read the instructions (found next to each plugin on the http://omeka.org/download/plugins/ page), since configuring each one is slightly different. These instructions also provide some coding assistance to help make the plugins work with your public themes when necessary.

So, go forth, and install some plugins.

Have you started using the Sitenotes plugin?

This simple function gives Omeka site administrators a place to leave instructions, style sheets, interpretations of Dublin Core fields, or any other notes for the back-end users. Once activated, a new tab appears on the top navigation bar of the admin panel that is accessible to all back-end users regardless of their permission levels. Editing the Sitenotes opens a large text box or “write board” where you can paste, write, edit, and delete text.

Sitenotes may not be useful for everyone, but it can be helpful. If you have a large project team with individuals working intermittently on the Omeka-based archive, Sitenotes can act as a bulletin board for posting messages that connect users. It can also be particularly useful if you develop guidelines for interpreting Dublin Core fields. We all know how easy it is to confuse contributors, collectors, and creators. Sitenotes helps to ensure that you develop consistent metadata.

You can see how to install Sitenotes in this week’s screencast.

Summer is here. It’s been heating up here in Northern Virginia the last few weeks and Saturday was the solstice, making it official. To celebrate the warm weather we have a new theme named Summer. It is the first installment of a seasonal suite, with fall, winter, and spring to follow soon. You can download Summer and other themes from the Themes page.

This week, learn how to create a collection for items in your archive.

If you are interested in using collections remember that first you must create a collection, then you can associate items with it. Additionally, an item may only belong to one collection at a time. Because of this limitation, tags are a great way to assist your online visitors in finding items while they browse.

For those of you familiar with physical collections, remember that your digital Omeka archive need not replicate the collections in your museum, library, or archive. You can use the Dublin Core metadata to identify a digital object as belonging to a specific collection, say, through the Source field. Or, you may modify an existing item type by adding another metafield. If you desire, the online collection can be less about donors and owners and more about themes and subjects.

Of course, how you organize your digital archive with Omeka is completely up to you.

Enjoy the weekend, everyone!