CollectionBuilder is an open source framework for creating digital collection and exhibit websites that are driven by metadata and powered by modern static web technology.
You do the Metadata.
Use your own spreadsheet and add a few required fields.
CollectionBuilder makes it work.
CollectionBuilder makes it work.
Upload your metadata and let CollectionBuilder use it to make:
Templates
Choose a template then use our Documentation and Tutorials to build your site step-by-step.
And check out example projects from users around the world to see each template in use!
CSV
Our most robust and flexible template designed for developing exhibits on your local computer
built with CSV
Sheets
A Google-Sheets-driven template designed for loading collection metadata directly from a CSV
built with Sheets
GitHub Pages
A lightweight, learning-focused template designed for free hosting on GitHub Pages
built with GitHub Pages
Built Ons
Specialized frameworks built on CollectionBuilder that take it beyond digital collections — into essay writing, oral history analysis, and more.
CB-Essay
A LONG-FORM DIGITAL SCHOLARSHIP FRAMEWORK for writing multimodal essays and monographs with integrated collection items
Learn about CB-EssayOral History as Data
AN ORAL HISTORY PUBLISHING AND ANALYSIS FRAMEWORK for visualizing coded interview transcripts as interactive digital collections
Learn about OHD
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Production
At its heart, CollectionBuilder is a set of Jekyll projects or templates designed following the Lib-Static development methodology which aims to lower the barriers for development and deployment of digital collections, while upholding the unique values and perspectives of GLAM institutions.
CollectionBuilder prioritizes pragmatic, sustainable, and simplified approaches to infrastructure to ensure the tool is 'do-able' and approachable for digital knowledge workers in libraries and museums, empowering them to take control of their web systems. An experiment in 'minimal computing', CollectionBuilder provides a depth of learning opportunities and development possibilities, allowing users to take complete ownership over the project and make their work open to the world.