Wichita State University Libraries recently upgraded its DSpace based institutional repository, Shocker Open Access Repository (SOAR), to the new version 1.6.2 with an XML-based interface “Manakin”. Manakin gives the possibility of creating different interfaces called “themes” and themes provide branding for various communities and new functions and visual effects for images and other collections. This presentation will address the customization of Manakin and the implementation of new functions and features from an institution’s experience. It will discuss how we create the local theme, test the interfaces for different communities and an image gallery theme for image collections. It will address details including modifying page structures, customizing content, and adding new navigation menus (e.g. “Share” and “Information”). It will show how we use Firebug and IE8 Developer Tools to preview CSS changes, how we modify XSLT stylesheets and work in a unix environment. These experiences and techniques can be applied by other institutions which use DSpace. This presentation will also give some reflections on working with system and with a team from the perspective of a Metadata Catalog Librarian in a medium sized library.