Get a list of collections in the footeer.php

How can I get a list of public collections and their links in my footer.php? Seems like it should be simple, but I can't figure it out.

loop('collections') gives me a `Zend_View_Exception
(An array of records is not available for the loop.).`

Using version 2.2.2.

This is as close as I have come. There must/might be a better way.

$collections = get_records(
	'Collection',
	array(
		'sort_field' => 'id',
		'sort_dir' => 'a'
	)
);
$links = array();
foreach ($collections as $collection) {
    array_push(
    	$links,
    	link_to_items_in_collection(
    		metadata(
    			$collection,
    			array('Dublin Core', 'Title')
    		),
    		array(
    			'class' => 'nav__link  nav--section__link'
    		),
    		'browse',
    		$collection
    	)
    );
}

For example, there is probably a way to have get_records sort by title.

And here is a way to have get_records sort by title:

$collections = get_records(
	'Collection',
	array(
		'sort_field' => 'Dublin Core,Title',
		'sort_dir' => 'a'
	)
);

Here's an example that might come closer. I put this in footer.php. The parameters for get_records you seem to have a solid handle on!

<?php
$collections = get_records('Collection');
set_loop_records('collections', $collections);

?>
<ul>
<?php foreach (loop('collections') as $collection): ?>
    <li><?php echo link_to_collection(); ?></li>
<?php endforeach; ?>
</ul>

That gives a list of collections with links, and seems to get at what you need, unless there are variations I don't see.

Thanks for the more elegant solution.