What is a Browse Category?
Browse categories are lists that appear on the Aspen homepage. They are a visually appealing way to advertise your library’s collection. Browse categories are essentially digital book displays.
Browse categories can include subcategories (like the Kit & Kaboodle category) or be standalone.
How do I Create a Browse Category?
There are two ways to create a browse category. Browse categories created from a reading list will have the exact same content as the list, while browse categories created from search results will update as materials that satisfy the search parameters are added to the catalog.
From a Reading List
Open the list you would like to convert into a browse category. Note: Only public lists can be made into browse categories, so make sure your list is not set to private. Below the list title are some options. Open the “List Tools” dropdown menu and select “Add to Browse”.
This will open a pop-up window titled “Add as Browse Category to Home Page”. Type in the name of the browse category (usually the same as the list title, but you can change it if you wish). If you are creating a sub-category to nest under another category, then select the parent category from the dropdown menu. Check the “Display on Home Page” box and click the “Create Category” button to add the browse category to the home page.
From a Search
Start by performing a blank search (leave the search field blank instead of typing in a keyword). This may take a few minutes. Once the search has loaded, you can narrow the search using the facets on the left-hand side of the search results. This allows you to limit the search by format, publication date, language, subject, and more. When you are happy with your search parameters, open the “Search Tools” dropdown just above the first result and select “Add To Browse”.
A pop-up window will open, asking whether you are updating an existing browse category or creating a new one. Select the “Create New” button. Type in the name of the browse category. If you are creating a sub-category to nest under another category, then select the parent category from the dropdown menu. Check the “Display on Home Page” box and click the “Create Category” button to add the browse category to the home page.