humanespot.org humanespot.org humanespot.org
 
 

HumaneSpot.org User Guide

 

Whether you're already registered with HumaneSpot.org or just considering it, we've put together this User Guide to help you navigate the many resources we have available. Still need more convincing? Take a look at the HumaneSpot.org user benefits in more detail.



How to Get Started with HumaneSpot.org

If you're an animal advocate, getting started is as simple as 1-2-3:

  1. Apply for Access. If you're not already registered, go here to complete our online application. You will be logged in as a guest user and will receive a confirmation email including your account information. You will receive a second email when your account is approved for full access. Note that approval is not automatic; please see read about our user application process for details.
  2. Log in to the Site. Until you have been granted full access, you will only be able to see brief summaries of our content. Once registered and granted full access, you can log in on any page of HumaneSpot.org and immediately begin exploring all of our free resources in full detail.
  3. Personalize. Once approved, you can receive weekly emails with updates for the topic and content type preferences you chose in your application. This is one of the most valuable features because users receive only the information you need. Just be sure to keep your preferences up to date for your email and RSS spotlights and your personal home page. See below for detailed instructions or go here to update your preferences now.


Important HumaneSpot.org Policies

HumaneSpot.org is developed by animal advocates, for animal advocates, and our website and user policies were developed with that perspective. See below for a list of important policies and user terms.



Important HumaneSpot.org Pages



How to Search or Browse Our Content

All of the content on HumaneSpot.org is fully indexed and available for our users to search (users must be logged in to access this function). To conduct a simple keyword search, use the search box found in the upper right of every page of the website; just enter your terms and click the "search" button.

  • Advanced Search. To conduct a more detailed search, click on "Advanced Search" in the navigation menu, or go directly to http://www.humanespot.org/search/hspotadvancedsearch/. Use the options on this page to specify exact phrases or to require or omit words from your search (similar to Google's advanced search). You can refine your search by selecting "primary topics" in the box to the right. To select multiple topics, hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard and click on the topics you want to search. You can limit your search to specific content types using the checkboxes below.
  • Database Search Options. For users seeking research studies or specific data, this information is most likely in the HumaneSpot.org research database. More search options are available for research citations; these can be found further down on the advanced search page, in the section titled "Refine further (database records only)." Click on the blue links in this section to see different options and enter your search criteria. Note that these additional options apply ONLY to our research database records.
  • Browse the Content. Much of the content on HumaneSpot.org can also be browsed. To browse research database records, go to http://www.humanespot.org/node/1944. See the box labeled "Browse Records by Issue" and click on your preferred topic. To browse our "external resources" (including links to other websites and data repositories), go to http://www.humanespot.org/resourcelibrary/list. Finally, to browse research studies, articles, and case studies published by HRC, go to http://www.humanespot.org/node/2415.

Registered users are welcome to contact HRC for assistance if they have any trouble using our advanced search form or difficulty finding a specific item.



How to Set or Change Your Preferences

HumaneSpot.org users receive "spotlights" whenever new content is added to the site. One of the most convenient features, spotlights can be presented via email messages, RSS feeds, and/or on the users' personal home pages. Users can personalize their spotlights to receive only information about specific topics (the preferences users choose in their initial applications are automatically applied to their spotlight preferences). See below for details on setting preferences for the spotlights and updating your personal contact information.

  • Email Spotlights. To set your email preferences, go to http://www.humanespot.org/spotlights/email. First, select how often you would like to receive emails using the "Delivery Interval" drop-down box. Choose "never" if you prefer not to receive spotlights via email. Next, choose your topic preferences; you will receive one combined email with new items matching any of the topics that you have selected here. Finally, select the content types that you would like to hear about via email. Selecting at least "Research Citation" and "External Resource" is strongly recommended. Note: To avoid accidentally filtering our emails as spam, add "info@humanespot.org" to your email address book.
  • RSS Spotlights. RSS is a technology that makes it possible for people to keep up with their favorite web sites in an automated manner that's easier than checking them manually. To set your RSS preferences and access the link to your personalized RSS feed, go to http://www.humanespot.org/spotlights/rss. Choose your preferred topics and content types using the same instructions for email spotlights, per above. For a primer on using RSS, see this article from Information Week .
  • Personal Home Page. To set preferences for your personal home page (My Humane Spot), go to http://www.humanespot.org/spotlights/myhspot. Choose your preferred topics and content types using the same instructions for email spotlights, per above. These settings will determine what shows up under "My Spotlights" on your personal home page, which is the default page when you first log in, found at http://www.humanespot.org/personal. Also, most items on HumaneSpot.org can be saved to your personal home page for later reference. Just click "add to favorites" whenever you want to save a particular item; it will appear under "My Saved Items" on your personal home page.
  • Contact Information. To update your email address, password, or other contact information, go to http://www.humanespot.org/user. Immediately under your user name, click on the "edit" tab to change your email address or password. To change your contact information, first click on the edit tab, then on the "personal information" link, and enter your new details.


How to Participate and Submit Content

HumaneSpot.org was developed by the Humane Research Council, but the website is intended to be a collaborative tool for the entire animal protection movement. We encourage our users to participate in helping to build our database and get involved in discussions by commenting on blog posts, reports, articles, etc. See below for the ways that users can contribute to HumaneSpot.org and help us empower animal advocates through information.

  • Submit Research Citations. To submit research studies or other items for the HumaneSpot.org database, go to http://www.humanespot.org/node/add/content_research_citation. Please complete as much of this form as you can; HRC personnel will fill in other details before publishing the item. However, note that this form is for NEW research studies only. If you're not sure, please search the database to make sure that the item you're suggesting isn't already there.
  • Submit Your Comments. Registered users are encouraged to submit their comments (or reply to other users' comments) on pages throughout HumaneSpot.org. Just click on "add new comment" at the bottom of the page. Comments are welcome for research database items, articles, reports, and blog posts. HRC's blog (Humane Thinking) can be found here: http://www.humanespot.org/humanethinking.
  • Promote HumaneSpot.org. Please help us make sure that animal advocates everywhere know about and utilize the free resources available on HumaneSpot.org. Users are encouraged to post links on their individual or group websites and in e-newsletters. We have also produced a series of web banners that can be used to help promote the website; for the banners, see http://www.humanespot.org/node/2526.


If you have ideas for other items that should be included in this HumaneSpot.org User Guide, please contact us with your suggestions.

Note: This User Guide was last modified on October 8, 2007



Was this information helpful?

If so, please consider a donation to the Humane Research Council to help us with the costs of maintaining, expanding, and improving HumaneSpot.org.