Collections are groups of repository content that can be described themselves. Repository content is aggregated in a collection by setting the field_member_of
entity reference field to point to a collection. Generally speaking, anything can behave as a collection, and anything with field_member_of can be a member of a collection.
However, Islandora provides a "Collection" taxonomy term in the Islandora Models vocabulary that can be used to trigger collection-specific behavior.
For example, a context provided by Islandora Defaults will display a list of child resource node teasers on the resources' display page when this term is applied to the field_model field.
!!! Tip "Collections and Deleting" Collections and their members are independent of each other, and removing something from a collection does not delete it. Similarly, deleting a collection does not delete its members.
When logged in as an administrator, click the Content button under the Manage tab.
Click on Add content.
Then click on 'Repository Item' to give your collection the default metadata profile for Islandora 8.
Fill out the form.
Near the end of the form, under System, select Collection from the Model dropdown list.
Click Save when done.
The collection has been created. Now let's add some members to this collection.
To populate a collection with existing items, return to any existing content and click on its Edit tab. This brings up the form for this item.
Scroll down to the bottom and the System section. In the Member of section, start typing in the name of the collection this item should belong to. Select the name of the collection you want from the autocomplete.
The correct collection is now selected. Click Save when ready.
To confirm, return to the collection and verify the new item appears in the collection's 'Members' block.
To create an item and add it as a member to a collection in one step, visit a collection and click on its Members tab. From the
Members tab, you can manage the members of a collection and perform actions on them.
Click on the +Add member button, and then select 'Repository Item' to give your new item a Content Type. Only content types that
have the field_member_of field will be available from this list.
You are taken to the creation form for a Repository Item, but if you scroll down to the System section, you should see the widget
for 'Member Of' is already filled out for you with the appropriate collection.
Click 'Save' at the end of the form to create the new item and add it as a member of the collection.
!!! Tip "Islandora Quick Lessons" Learn more with this video on Making a Collection.