Matt Jabaily
Technical and Technology
I have a wide variety of technical skills and enjoy exploring new technologies. I am adept at using a wide variety of software and teach myself new programs quickly. This page contains some examples of my technical works, including websites, digital collections and databases.
Old Dominion University Libraries Website
I have made several significant contributions to the ODU Libraries site. For example, I designed the tabbed search boxes on the Libraries homepage (the rest of the page was created before I started working at ODU). Other contributions I've made include the Hofheimer Art Library homepage, a feature film search page (which is integrated with our Millennium Catalog), and our customized LibraryH3lp chat widgets.
ODU Libraries Mobile Website
I created the ODU Libraries Mobile Website using jQuery Mobile. I also modified the libraries homepage to detect mobile users and presenting them with a special link to the mobile site.
User Testing and Google Analytics
As part of the ODU Libraries Web Team, I was appointed as the head of the Usability Team. The team conducted several usability tests of the site, observing and recording students, staff, and faculty as they used the Libraries Website. I also led the implementation of Google Analytics on our site. I presented the Libraries' experience with Google Analytics at the Virginia Library Association Annual Conference with a poster entitled: Using Google Analytics for Website Assessment and Improvement.
Video Editing
During 2010, our library participated in Virginia Snapshot Day, a statewide event to promote libraries by showing the important work done by libraries every day. As part of the event, we interviewed library patrons. I was in charge of filming the event and editing a promotional video. It can be viewed from the library's Snapshot Day Website.
Google Earth Map of Puya Localities
I created the Google Earth Map of Puya Localities is a map I created for my wife, when she was a PhD student in botany at UW-Madison. I used the GPS coordinates she recorded in the field to mark the localities of all her South American collection locations. I then linked each placemark to photos taken at the site.
Skills Inventory Database
I built the Skills Inventory Database from a survey of student staff's skills and interests. A query in the database allows a user to search for all the members of the staff who have a particular skill or interest in learning it. I did not create the survey and its creator did not have a background in database design. Thus, this database is not an example of my conformity to good database practices; instead, it shows my resourcefulness in adapting to imperfect situations.
Mini-ILS in OpenBiblio
I've created a small scale catalog for my wife's professional collection of botany books. The metadata is not particularly well maintained; the records are downloaded from the Library of Congress and not corrected. The system works, however, and suits her needs.
Minecraft Learning Commons
I used Minecraft, a popular computer game, to create a 1:1 scale model of the ODU Perry Library and Learning Commons. I've used the product to promote the library and provide a fun way to explore the library. After initially allowing players to explore and help refine the original model, I created a "Haunted Library" game, filling the library with zombies and other monsters for players to fight.
T-Shirt Contest Winners
I twice created the winning design for the Annual Madison SLIS ALA Student Chapter T-Shirt Contest. I created these designs using a combination of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.