Resource Library

The Resource Library can be created as a custom page using website pages and Site Builder or can be added to the existing page, like All Products or Student Dashboard. If you are using an existing page, skip to Step 2.

1. Follow the instructions here and create a custom page
2. Give your custom page a recognizable and descriptive name
3. Once created, remove the default Banner section by clicking on the section and selecting Delete Section
4. You can change the page access settings by turning it into a private custom page. Note that the Resource Library allows you to manage access settings of individual resources and the library as a whole.

To create the structure for your Resource Library page you need to add the corresponding section. This is a required step and ensures that your resources can be displayed on the page and can be filtered and searched through.

Settings in this section allow you to define the categories that resources can be divided into.

1. On the same page from Step 1, select +Add section
2. Search for and add the Resource Library section to the page
3. Edit the Search, Filter, and Categories settings group
   This settings group determines how the options to search, filter, and categorize the resources will be displayed. You can adjust the style, icons, the no-results message and more. Make sure to complete the following settings:
   1. Define your Category Tree
      • Create a category group on a new line with a group name (no asterisk). You can create as many category groups as you need, but at least one category group is required.
      • List each category within the group under the group name, starting with an asterisk (*).

      • For example, if you want to create three category groups, you would write it out like:

        Resource Type
        *Audio
        *Video
        *Download
        Experience Level 
        *Novice
        *Intermediate
        *Advanced
        Access Level
        *Free
        *Paid

   2. Select the desired Filter Option
      Define whether the filter will look for resources that match ALL selected categories, ANY of the selected categories, or if a user (student) can select it themselves.
   3. Select the desired Search Matching Threshold
      The resource name, description, categories, and keywords all affect how many resources are considered a match when searching. Drag the matching threshold to the right to be looser with matching (more results, less accuracy). Drag to the left to be more strict (less results, more accuracy).
4. Edit the Cards settings group
   This settings group determines how the resource cards are displayed.
5. Edit the Resources settings group
   1. Select Demo Sample #
      If you have not uploaded any resources, this setting will display sample resource cards so you can see how the section will look like.
6. Edit the Library Upgrade Popup settings group
   This settings group determines the appearance of an upgrade popup. This popup appears when a student tries to access the resources that they have not purchased. An upgrade popup can encourage students to purchase access to an individual resource or to the whole library - this option is configured in the settings of each individual resource (see Step 3 below). This setting group determines how an upgrade which encourages students to buy access to the whole library looks like. You can configure what media, heading, subheading, button text, etc show up in the popup. Make sure to complete the following settings:
   1. Select the CTA type
      Determine whether the popup should display a single button encouraging students to purchase access to the whole Resource Library or display options to purchase the library OR a resource. For example: "Get this resource for $49 or all resources for $199"
   2. Select the Upgrade Link
      Link to the page of the product that the student needs to purchase to get access to the whole Resource Library. For example, you can create a private and hidden course that grants access to the Resource Library when purchased.
7. Edit the Font Awesome Icons settings group
   Use these settings if you want to use Font Awesome icons
8. Edit the All Products/Student Dashboard Pages settings group
   These settings affect how the Resource Library behaves when added to the default All Products or Student Dashboard pages.
9. Edit the Who should see this section? settings group
   These settings determine who can see the Resource Library. This section allows you to control visibility while you are setting up and testing the feature.
10. Edit the Section settings group
    These settings determine how the Resource Library section looks like

Once you created the Resource Library structure, you can start adding individual resources.

Each resource will be defined in its own site builder section. Once added to the page, the resource will automatically be displayed in the resource library.

There are several resource sections that can be used with the Resource Library, each determined by the type of resources you want to add. Currently, the following sections are available:

• Audio Resource: allows you to add an audio resource to the library, e.g. podcast recording
• Bundle Resource: allows you to add all products in a bundle to the library at once
• Download Resource: allows you to add a downloadable resource to the library, e.g. a checklist
• IFRAME Popup: allows you to display any iframeable content as a popup within the resource library
• Micro Lesson Popup: allows you to display more complex content that contains media, rich text, and call-to-action buttons in a popup within a resource library
• Page Resource: allows you to link to another page within the library
• Product Resource:  allows you to add your Thinkific products to the library
• Video Resource: allows you to add a video resource to the library, e.g. a video tutorial

The setup for each resource section is mostly similar, as most have the same settings. Unique settings that appear in specific sections only are covered below. To set up a resource section:

1. On the same page from Step 2, select +Add section
2. Search for and add the desired resource section to the page
3. Rename the section for easier search by clicking on the pencil icon
4. Edit the Card Content settings group
   This setting determines how the resource card is displayed. You can adjust the image, heading and more. Make sure to complete the following settings:
   1. Add the categories to the Categories (One per line) box
      These categories must match the categories you defined in Step 2 exactly (not including the asterisk)
5. Edit the Access settings group
   This setting determines who can see and access the resource or what the upgrade behaviour should be
   1. Edit the Type of Access Restriction
      You can allow the resource to be viewed by anyone (No restriction - always allow), show the resource to anyone but restrict access (Tease - show but restrict access), or show and allow access only to select students (Restricted - show only if have access)
   2. Select the Type of Condition
      Define whether a student must have ALL specified enrollments or ANY of the specified enrollments
   3. Select the products, based on the enrollments to which the access is restricted in the Allow access when enrolled in...(1-5)
   4. Select the Tease Action
      If a Tease type of restriction is selected, determine what type of an upgrade will a student be prompted to do. An upgrade popup can link students to a different page (Navigate to a page), show a custom popup (Custom Upgrade Popup), encourage students to purchase access to an individual resource (Resource Upgrade Popup), or access to the whole library (Library Upgrade Popup). The last option is configured in the settings of the Resource Library section (see Step 2 above).
6. Edit the Resource Upgrade Popup settings group
   If you selected the Resource Upgrade Popup as a tease action in the previous step, use this section to determine how the popup appears.
7. Edit the Search settings group
   Add additional keywords to help your students find the right resource. These keywords have a bigger weight than description and resource names when determining the ranking of a resource.

The following sections are unique for each resource section type:

• Audio Resource:
  • Edit the Audio Link settings group
    Add the link to an audio file to include it in the library. Learn how to get the direct audio link here by following steps 1-3 here: Adding Audio in the Text Editor
• Bundle Resources:
  • Edit the Bundle settings group
    Select the bundle to add all of the products from the bundle to the library
  • Edit the Product Categories settings group
    Select whether you want to use the product's categories for categorization in the Resource Library, if you want to use custom categories (the ones you defined in Step 2), or if you want to use product price as a category.
  • Select +Add exclusions
    If you want to remove any specific products that are in the bundle from displaying, add them to the exclusions list.
• Download Resource:
  • Edit the Download Link settings group
    Add the link to a download file to include it in the library. To get the direct link to the download file, create a Download lesson in any course, preview the lesson, right-click on the Download button, and select the Copy link address option.
• IFRAME Popup:
  • Edit the Popup Content settings group
    Add the iFrame URL (i.e. what will be displayed when the resource is accessed) and define how the popup appears and looks.
• Lesson Content Popup:
  • Edit the Lesson Content settings group
    Select the media type, add the lesson content (i.e. what will be displayed when the resource is accessed) and define how the popup appears and looks.
• Page Resource:
  • Edit the Page Link settings group
    Add the link to a page to include it in the library.
• Product Resource:
  • Edit the Product settings group
    Select the product to be added to the library.
  • Edit the Page Link settings group
    Select where a student should be directed when the resource is selected.
• Video Resource:
  • Edit the Video settings group
    Select the video that will be displayed when the resource is selected.

Once a resource is added, it will appear in the Resource Library. Repeat the steps above for additional resources.

Each resource added to the Resource Library can have its own access setting, defined in the Access settings group during the resource setup (Step 3 above) which allows you to decide whether a resource will be:

• visible to everyone (select the No restrictions - always allow option)
• visible to everyone, but can only be accessed by students who satisfy specified criteria (select the Tease - show but restrict access option)
• visible only to students who satisfy specified criteria (select the Restricted - show only if you have access option)

Criteria determining access are based on the enrollment in products (e.g. a course, a bundle, or a community).

When the resource is visible to everyone but can only be accessed by students who satisfy specified criteria (the Tease action), you can select the type of popup and call to action that appears when a resource is clicked. The popup can:

• link students to a different page (select the Navigate to a page option)
• show a custom popup (select the Custom Upgrade Popup option)
• encourage students to purchase access to an individual resource (select the Resource Upgrade Popup option)
• encourage students to purchase access to the whole library (select the Library Upgrade Popup option)

When selecting the Resource Upgrade Option, define how the resource upgrade popup looks in the settings of each individual resource.

To set up the resource-level access control:

1. From the Admin Dashboard, go to Channels
2. Select Website
3. Select the page that hosts your Resource Library
4. Open the site builder section of the resource you want to restrict access to
5. In the Access settings group, select the Type of Access Restriction = Tease - show but restrict access
6. Select the conditions (products that would grant access to the resource)
7. Select Tease Action = Resource Upgrade Popup
8. Edit the Resource Upgrade Popup settings group

If you want your students to see individual resources but purchase access to all resources at once, you can select the Tease option for each resource and then the Library Upgrade Popup option.

The library upgrade popup is enabled through the Library Upgrade Popup settings group when setting up the Resource Library section (Step 2 above).

The library upgrade popup can display a call-to-action to purchase access to the library as a whole OR give a student an option to buy access to one resource or to the whole library.

To set up the library-level access control:

1. From the Admin Dashboard, go to Channels
2. Select Website
3. Select the page that hosts your Resource Library
4. Open the site builder section of the resource you want to restrict access to
5. In the Access settings group, select the Type of Access Restriction = Tease - show but restrict access
6. Select the conditions (products that would grant access to the resource)
7. Select Tease Action = Library Upgrade Popup
8. Go back to the list of site builder sections
9. Select the Resource Library
10. Edit the Library Upgrade Popup settings group

If you use a custom page to host the Resource Library, you can set the page to private to restrict access to logged-in students only or students enrolled in a specific product only. Learn more: Private Custom Pages.

If you want to use an upgrade popup with more customization options, you can use a Custom Upgrade Popup section. To do that:

1. From the Admin Dashboard, go to Channels
2. Select Website
3. Select the page that hosts your Resource Library
4. Set up the custom upgrade popup ID: note that this ID must be unique on a page, i.e. no other custom popups on the page should use the same ID
5. Configure the custom popup
6. Go back to the list of site builder sections
7. Open the site builder section of the resource you want to restrict access to
8. In the Access settings group, select the Type of Access Restriction = Tease - show but restrict access
9. Select the conditions (products that would grant access to the resource)
10. Select Tease Action = Custom Upgrade Popup
11. In the Custom Popup ID field, add the popup ID you configured in step 4: note, the ID must match exactly

You can use the Resource Library on default pages, like the Student Dashboard. This allows your students to quickly access products they purchased (courses and communities) in addition to other resources you might add.

When using the Resource Library feature on the Student Dashboard, the Resource Library will replace the defaul Student Dashboard sections. Make sure to complete the steps below to display the products the student has purchased.

To add the resource library to the student dashboard, in addition to the section outlined in the setup section above you will need to add:

• Student Dashboard Course Cards section - this section allows you to display courses that the student is enrolled in
• Student Dashboard Community Cards section - this section allows you to display communities that the student is enrolled in

To add the resource library to the student dashboard:

1. From the Admin Dashboard, go to Channels
2. Select Website
3. Select the Student Dashboard page
4. Add and configure the Resource Library section as outlined in Step 2 above
   The Resource Library section must be the first section you add and be above any other sections you add.
5. Add and configure the Student Dashboard Course Cards section
   1. Edit the Default Ordering & Number settings group
      Select whether your courses will be displayed in the order of last accessed or in the order defined in your Admin Dashboard: Re-Order Your Products.
   2. Edit the Categories settings group
      You can use autogenerated Smart Categories: Recommended, Not Started, In Progress, Completed, or Expiring Soon. However, these categories must be added to the Categories tree in the Resource Library section.
   3. Edit the Card settings group
      Define how course cards should look like.
   4. Add exclusions
      Select which products you do not want to show on the Student Dashboard
6. Add and configure the Student Dashboard Community Cards section
7. Add additional resources you want to display in the student dashboard by following instructions in the Step 3 above.

You can use the Resource Library on default pages, like All Products. This allows your students to see all products available on your Thinkific site in addition to other resources you might add.

When using the Resource Library feature on the All Products page, the Resource Library will replace the defaul Products sections. Make sure to complete the steps below to display the products correctly.

To add the resource library to the student dashboard, in addition to the section outlined in the setup section above you will need to add:

• All Products Resources section - this section allows you to display all published and public products available on your site

To add the resource library to the student dashboard:

1. From the Admin Dashboard, go to Channels
2. Select Website
3. Select the All Products page
4. Add and configure the Resource Library section as outlined in Step 2 above
   The Resource Library section must be the first section you add and be above any other sections you add.
5. Add and configure the All Products Resources section
   1. Edit the Product Categories settings group
      You can use autogenerated Smart Categories, however, these categories must be added to the Categories tree in the Resource Library section.
   2. Edit the Card settings group
      Define how product cards should look like.
   3. Add exclusions
      Select which products you do not want to show on the All Courses page
6. Add additional resources you want to display in the student dashboard by following the instructions in Step 3 above.

The search tool scans specific fields in your resources and prioritizes results in this order:

• Keywords: defined for each individual resource (see Step 3 above).
• Heading: The title of the resource.
• Description: The body text describing the resource.
• Categories: The tags applied to resources.

To make the search results and search sensitivity, adjust the Search Matching Threshold in the Resource Library section settings (Step 2 above). Drag the matching threshold to the right to be looser with matching (more results, less accuracy). Drag to the left to be more strict (fewer results, more accuracy).

Yes! By adding a URL parameter(s) to your page link, you can get the Resource Library to have categories pre-checked and a search phrase entered. This can help you directly link to filtered content.

• To directly link to one category: add c=Category at the end of the URL
  • For example: https://www.yoursite.com/pages/your-page?c=Category
• To directly link to multiple categories: add c=Category,Category2 at the end of the URL, separated by commas
  • For example: https://www.yoursite.com/pages/your-page?c=Category,Category2
• To directly link to a search phrase: add q=SearchPhrase at the end of the URL
  • For example: https://www.yoursite.com/pages/your-page?q=SearchPhrase
• To directly link to a combination of search phrase and multiple categories: add q=Search Phrase&c=Category,Category2 at the end of the URL, separating URL parameters using ampersand (&)
  • For example: https://www.yoursite.com/pages/your-page?q=Search Phrase&c=Category1,Category2

Replace the link with the URL of the page where you added your resource library and replace the actual category names and search phrases with your specific details.

• Make sure all of your product images and resource card images are the same size (typically 760-420)
• Keep headings and descriptions approximately the same length and the same number of lines
• Use the Max lines of content setting to control how many lines of description are shown
• Use the Min height of content to normalize how much space each card will take up for the content area.

Sometimes, an icon indicating that the area can be expanded or collapsed interferes with other elements on the page. To fix this add the following code to an Embed section on the page or inside of your Site Footer Settings:

<style>
.kapow-spa .fa-classic, .kapow-spa .fa-light, .kapow-spa .fa-regular,.kapow-spa .fa-solid,.kapow-spa .fa-thin,.kapow-spa .fal, .kapow-spa .far, .kapow-spa .fas,.kapow-spa .fat {
    font-family: "Font Awesome 6 Pro";
}

.kapow-spa .fa-brands,.kapow-spa .fab {
    font-family: "Font Awesome 6 Brands";
}

.kapow-spa .fa-classic.fa-duotone,.kapow-spa .fa-duotone,.fad {
    font-family: "Font Awesome 6 Duotone";
}

.kapow-spa .fa-sharp, .kapow-spa .fasl,.fasr, .kapow-spa .fass {
    font-family: "Font Awesome 6 Sharp";
}

</style>