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Midwinter ALA Meeting to Address Validating Quality in Large-Scale Digitization

I'm the current Chair of this interest group, and I thought readers might be interested in hearing about our upcoming meeting.  

ASCLA-ICAN Collaborative Digitization Interest Group at ALA Annual

Saturday, January 21, 2012 | 4-5:30 in Dallas Convention Center, D161

Join us for conversations about new and ongoing issues and opportunities related to collaborative digitization initiatives across a diverse array of consortia, libraries, archives, museums, and cultural heritage institutions. This meeting is open to all and will feature a main presentation (see below) and brief project updates from attendees.

Please contact Jason Kucsma ([email protected]) if you would like to be added to the project update agenda or if you would like to volunteer to chair this group for the upcoming year.

Validating Quality in Large-Scale Digitization

Jackie Bronicki, MLIS | University of Michigan

 

The large‐scale digitization of books and serials is generating extraordinary collections of intellectual content that are transforming teaching and scholarship at all levels of the educational enterprise. Significant questions have been raised, however, regarding the quality and fitness for use of digital surrogates produced by third‐party vendors. For digital repositories and their communities of users to trust that deposited objects have the capacity to meet the uses envisioned for them, repositories must validate the quality and fitness for use of the objects they preserve. The presentation showcases the initial findings from a review of a statistically valid sample of digitized volumes that reside in the HathiTrust Digital Library and are in the public domain.  The presentation summarizes the investigative methods, presents data on the distribution of perceived error in the sampled volumes, and presents preliminary findings on the correlation of these errors with some of the most important bibliographic and physical characteristics of the source books. The presentation concludes with speculation on what the findings suggest for the use of digitized volumes for preservation, access, and use. The research is supported by generous grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The project is a collaboration between the University of Michigan’s School of Information, the libraries of the universities of Michigan and Minnesota, and HathiTrust. The project is at mid-point in its two year investigation of image quality and the impact of large scale digitization on use and usability.

About Jackie Bronicki

Jackie Bronicki is the project coordinating librarian for a grant, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, focusing on validating quality in large-scale digitization.  Jackie is based out of Technical Services at the University of Michigan Library and works under the direct guidance of the Professor Paul Conway, Principal Investigator for the grant, from the School of Information at University of Michigan.  She manages many aspects of the day to day operations of the research project with a focus on data collection to determine frequency and severity of error in digitization. She graduated from Rice University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Physiology, with an area interest in Biology and Biochemistry.  In 2005, she completed her MLIS at Wayne State University with a specialization in medical librarianship.  Before joining the project team at University of Michigan, she was a project coordinator for a large international dialysis study focused on collecting both qualitative and quantitative data from over 400 facilities in 13 countries.  

 

Digital Preservation Fundamentals: Delivered to Your Desktop

Photo courtesy @StuartBryant on Flickr

 

This October, METRO is pleased to present a new lunch-hour webinar series that will outline fundamental issues related to the preservation of digital resources. These four programs will explore current practices of cultural heritage institutions, key issues involved in preserving digital collections, and how you can share and apply digital preservation techniques with the communities you serve. Join us for one or more of these informative hour-long sessions from your desk. Each program will also be recorded and made available to all registrants for you to revisit at your convenience. Register for all four webinars at a discounted rate here: http://www.metro.org/en/cev/114

Webinar: The Ship Hasn’t Left Without You – Current Trends in Digital Preservation

Tuesday, October 11^th - 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

 

This session will highlight trends in Digital Preservation adoption among cultural heritage institutions that the instructors have gained over five years of research.  The presentation will review yet-to-be-published results from a 2011 survey, will provide participants with resources for determining their own institutional digital preservation needs, and includes interactive “on-the-spot” research on current digital preservation trends.

To learn more or to register, visit http://www.metro.org/en/cev/105.

The Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA), a certifying organization of professional archivists,

 will award 1 Archival Recertification Credit (ARCs) to eligible Certified Archivists (CAs) attending this session.

Webinar: Email – Digital Preservation Nightmare?

Tuesday, October 18^th - 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

 

Over forty years after the invention of email as a transformative communication mechanism, relatively few institutions have developed policies, implementation strategies, procedures, tools and services that systematically preserve email records holding long-term legal, administrative, cultural or historical value.  Many barriers seem to block effective action, but an examination of recent literature and projects reveals that significant progress has been achieved in developing the policy, organizational, and technical systems that can compirse an effective email preservation program.  This session will outline practical steps that any institution can take to get started with email preservation, offering specific recommendations for organizational leaders, IT professionals, librarians and archivists who are seeking to preserve email.

To learn more or to register, visit http://www.metro.org/en/cev/118.

The Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA), a certifying organization of professional archivists,

 will award 1 Archival Recertification Credit (ARCs) to eligible Certified Archivists (CAs) attending this session.

 

Webinar: Core Issues in Digital Preservation

Monday, October 24^th - 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

 

This webinar introduces key concepts for understanding the life-cycle and preservation issues involved in digital projects.  The presentation is built on a general model for preservation that applies to collections of all types, and uses this as the foundation for developing an understanding of issues that are especially important in digital collections.

To learn more or to register, visit http://www.metro.org/en/cev/109.

The Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA), a certifying organization of professional archivists,

 will award 1 Archival Recertification Credit (ARCs) to eligible Certified Archivists (CAs) attending this session.

 

Webinar: Personal Digital Archiving – Basic Advice to Preserve Your Digital Memories

Tuesday, October 25^th - 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

 

This presentation will draw from the Library of Congress online guidance in connection with preserving personal and family digital materials.  The presentation makes the case that librarians and archivists should develop the capacity to talk about digital preservation with non-experts in order to assist staff at smaller institutions and members of the general public.  The nature of change will be outlined, as will a series of practical tips that people can use to keep their valuable digital content accessible over time.  The session will provide advice that attendees can implement themselves or that they can pass on to patrons or other stakeholders.

To learn more or to register, visit http://www.metro.org/en/cev/103.

The Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA), a certifying organization of professional archivists,

 will award 1 Archival Recertification Credit (ARCs) to eligible Certified Archivists (CAs) attending this session.

Four-Webinar Series Delivers Digital Preservation Fundamentals to Your Desktop

This October, METRO is pleased to present a new lunch-hour webinar series that will outline fundamental issues related to the preservation of digital resources. These three programs will explore current practices of cultural heritage institutions, key issues involved in preserving digital collections, and how you can share and apply digital preservation techniques with the communities you serve. Join us for one or more of these informative hour-long sessions from your desk. Each program will also be recorded and made available to all registrants for you to revisit at your convenience.

Register for all four webinars at a discounted rate here: http://www.metro.org/en/cev/114

Webinar: The Ship Hasn’t Left Without You – Current Trends in Digital Preservation

Tuesday, October 11^th - 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

 

This session will highlight trends in Digital Preservation adoption among cultural heritage institutions that the instructors have gained over five years of research.  The presentation will review yet-to-be-published results from a 2011 survey, will provide participants with resources for determining their own institutional digital preservation needs, and includes interactive “on-the-spot” research on current digital preservation trends.

To learn more or to register, visit http://www.metro.org/en/cev/105.

The Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA), a certifying organization of professional archivists,

 will award 1 Archival Recertification Credit (ARCs) to eligible Certified Archivists (CAs) attending this session.

 

Webinar: Email – Digital Preservation Nightmare?

Tuesday, October 18^th - 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

 

Over forty years after the invention of email as a transformative communication mechanism, relatively few institutions have developed policies, implementation strategies, procedures, tools and services that systematically preserve email records holding long-term legal, administrative, cultural or historical value.  Many barriers seem to block effective action, but an examination of recent literature and projects reveals that significant progress has been achieved in developing the policy, organizational, and technical systems that can compirse an effective email preservation program.  This session will outline practical steps that any institution can take to get started with email preservation, offering specific recommendations for organizational leaders, IT professionals, librarians and archivists who are seeking to preserve email.

To learn more or to register, visit http://www.metro.org/en/cev/118.

 

Webinar: Core Issues in Digital Preservation

Monday, October 24^th - 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

 

This webinar introduces key concepts for understanding the life-cycle and preservation issues involved in digital projects.  The presentation is built on a general model for preservation that applies to collections of all types, and uses this as the foundation for developing an understanding of issues that are especially important in digital collections.

To learn more or to register, visit http://www.metro.org/en/cev/109.

The Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA), a certifying organization of professional archivists,

 will award 1 Archival Recertification Credit (ARCs) to eligible Certified Archivists (CAs) attending this session.

 

Webinar: Personal Digital Archiving – Basic Advice to Preserve Your Digital Memories

Tuesday, October 25^th - 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

 

This presentation will draw from the Library of Congress online guidance in connection with preserving personal and family digital materials.  The presentation makes the case that librarians and archivists should develop the capacity to talk about digital preservation with non-experts in order to assist staff at smaller institutions and members of the general public.  The nature of change will be outlined, as will a series of practical tips that people can use to keep their valuable digital content accessible over time.  The session will provide advice that attendees can implement themselves or that they can pass on to patrons or other stakeholders.

To learn more or to register, visit http://www.metro.org/en/cev/103.

The Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA), a certifying organization of professional archivists,

 will award 1 Archival Recertification Credit (ARCs) to eligible Certified Archivists (CAs) attending this session.

 

Please contact Laura Forshay at [email protected] with any questions.

Brooklyn Public Library is Hiring for an IMLS Grant Project Coordinator

This was passed along to me by a colleague, and I thought readers in the region might be interested or know someone who would. 

BROOKLYN  PUBLIC LIBRARY POSITION                                                           
POSITION :          IMLS CHART Grant Project Coordinator – part-time position 
DEPARTMENT :                 Brooklyn Collection

QUALIFICATIONS:  the candidate should hold a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science or be in the process of working towards the Degree. The candidate should also have experience working in an archive or library setting. The candidate should possess a range of skills including several of the following:  creating digital collections and metadata and cataloging of bibliographic materials.

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

This Project CHART prepares information professionals as digital managers for cultural heritage institutions. This three year grant funded position reports to the Division Chief, Brooklyn Collection and works with Brooklyn Collection staff. The Coordinator will also liaison with the Project Coordinators at the Brooklyn Historical Society and the Brooklyn Museum. The Coordinator will review all intern applications and be a key member of the selecting team for interns. The Coordinator supervises, assists and mentors Pratt-SILS student interns working on projects at the Library as assigned by the professional Library staff. Working with other Library staff, the Coordinator will help plan activities for the interns and arrange for tours and workshops as needed. The Coordinator will write reports on the grant activities and assist with statistical analysis and will collate data gathered at each institution. The Coordinator will assist with selection of images for digitization, delivery and retrieval of those images to the Digital Lab and creation of metadata. The Coordinator will be responsible for hands-on experience with the current project and will contribute to other projects as needed.  

Salary: $25 an hour. Schedule: current through June 30, 2013, 20 hours per week, flexible within core library hours.

Send cover letter and resume via email to [email protected] with “CHART Project Coordinator” in the subject line for immediate consideration.

 

 

Workshop Aims to Increase Collaboration Between Librarians and Wikimedia Projects

Next Tuesday, September 27^th, join us at METRO for a unique new workshop that will shed some light on how libraries use Wikipedia to help their patrons and increase visibility of their collections.  Wikimedia projects can work effectively to publicize library collections; this is your chance to learn how, give input, and more!

Wikipedia Loves Libraries: Leveraging Library Expertise and Collections in the Wikipedia Environment

Tuesday, September 27^th from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

This two-hour workshop is designed for library professionals and students who are interested in learning more about how their community can collaborate with the Wikimedia projects – notably Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons.

This is your opportunity to learn how Wikipedia can be used successfully by your library and how you can provide effective instruction about it to your students and patrons.  It is also the chance to give needed feedback on how to improve Wikimedia collaboration in the future – software, tools, projects, documentation – all ideas are welcome.

Who should attend:
Anyone interested in learning more about how Wikipedia can work as an effective means of publicizing your collections and make them more visible to online communities.  Relevant to public libraries, academic libraries, special collections & archives, information/digital literacy instructors.

By the end of this program, participants will:

• Have an overview of Wikipedia/Wikimedia collaborations with the cultural and educational institutions: galleries, libraries, archives, museums (GLAM); academic programs and classroom projects (Campus Ambassador program)
• Learn how to get their library’s multimedia used in Wikipedia articles
• Learn about everything they wanted to know about Wikipedia editing and copyright policies but were to afraid to ask.

Register here. 

Please contact Laura Forshay at [email protected] with any questions.

 

ALA's OITP Office to Host Webinar on Future of Public Libraries

This may be of interest to readers. I've read through the related report, and I'm sure this webinar will be a great conversation: 

Webinar | Confronting the Future: Strategic Visions for the 21st Century Library

Public libraries now confront formidable challenges.  The digital transformation of all media affects our resources, services, staff and programs, while changes in users and their needs, the growth of competitive Internet services, and financial stringencies add complexity.

A range of possible responses will be presented as contrasting visions: physical vs. virtual library; individual vs. community focus; portal vs. archive service; collection vs. creative approach.

Join us to hear about this new report from ALA’s Office for Information Technology Policy.  This session features the report’s author Dr. Roger Levien, OITP Fellow.  Perspectives from the field will be provided by Maxine Bleiweis, Westport Public Library, and Marc Gartler, Madison Public Library.

Date: Thursday, October 27, 2011
Time: 2 – 3 p.m. EDT
Register here.

 

ALA's ASCLA Division Announces Collaborative Digitization Interest Group

This was recently posted by Liz Bishoff to some listservs I follow: 

This year the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) reorganized to realize improved efficiencies and reflecting the interests of members.  As part of the reorganization, the ASCLA Sections were eliminated.  Discussion groups were converted to interest groups.  As a result of this change, ASCLA is inviting ALA members to join the new interest groups.  This process is very easy, using ALAConnect.

We welcome anyone involved in or interested in collaborative Digitization programs/projects to join the interest group.

ASCLA ICAN (InterLibrary Cooperation & Networking) Collaborative Digitization Interest Group: http://connect.ala.org/node/151439

Collaborative Digitization Group Interest Group for library cooperatives which are combinations, mergers, or contractual associations of one or more types of libraries (academic, public, special, or school) crossing jurisdictional, institutional, or political boundaries, working together to achieve maximum effective use of funds to provide library and information services to all citizens above and beyond those which can be provided through one institution. Such cooperative organizations or agencies may be designated to serve a community, a metropolitan area, a region within a region, or may serve a statewide or multi-state area.  

 

Upcoming Digitization Special Interest Group Mtg to Focus on Digitizing "Workhorse" Special Collections

Readers in the metropolitan NY region may be interested in this upcoming SIG meeting. All SIG meetings are open to anyone interested in attending. 

Digitizing Workhorse Collections: The Benefits and Obstacles of Digitizing Heavily Used Collections

Date: October 20, 2011
Time: 10am-12pm
Location: Metropolitan New York Library Council, 57 East 11th Street, 4th Floor New York, NY 10003-4605

Most Institutions have at least one “workhorse” collection, meaning that it is heavily used, and needs to be readily accessible to the public. These collections are often large and digitization can be expensive and more complex. A “workhorse” collection might not be the most visually appealing or unique but it is the most useful to a larger population, and gets the most use. For example, “The Brooklyn Daily Eagle” Newspaper Collection is a widely used historic newspaper collection in Brooklyn. The newspaper is only digitized from 1841- 1902, and the newspaper collection runs until 1955. The funds for digitization were received from grant money and the digitization was outsourced. Newspaper digitizing is also more complex, but highly beneficial when accomplished because it is widely used.

This session will focus on the challenges and benefits of digitizing a “workhorse” collection, including the various types of formats, the more complex digitization processes, the costs, and how to secure more grants funding for the project.

Panelists:

• Deborah Wythe, Head of Digital Collections and Services, Brooklyn Museum 
• Maria LaCalle, Digitization Project Manager, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
• Barbara Mathé, Museum Archivist and Head of Library Special Collections, American Museum of Natural History

To register, go to http://www.metro.org/en/cev/102

 

NYPL Seeking Digital Archivist for Manuscripts and Archives Division

I was just passed a link for this opening at NYPL, and thought readers might be interested (and interested in passing it along):

DIGITAL ARCHIVIST

External Overview:

The New York Public Library’s Manuscripts and Archives Division (MSS) seeks an experienced archivist to lead its efforts to manage the Library’s existing born digital archival holdings and expand its capacity to collect electronic records.

Under the direction of the Assistant Director for Archives and Manuscripts, the Digital Archivist will establish the Library’s methods and procedures for the acquisition, preservation, description, and service of born digital archives and manuscripts.

About NYPL and the Manuscripts and Archives Division

The New York Public Library holds approximately 50,000 linear feet of archival material in several curatorial units. The Manuscripts and Archives Division (MSS) is a curatorial unit of the Library, with over 30,000 linear feet of holdings, as well as the unit responsible for overseeing and coordinating archival activities throughout the Library and processing the archives collected by the Library for the Performing Arts. The Assistant Director for Archives and Manuscripts, who is the administrative head of MSS, also reviews all proposed archival acquisitions. 

The Digital Archivist will be a member of Assistant Director’s management team, which also includes the Head of Archival Processing; the Manager who coordinates special projects, collection surveys, and movement of material; and the Assistant Curator who leads reference and outreach activities

 External Responsibilities:

In collaboration with the MSS management team, NYPL curators, information technology staff, and archivists, as well as the archival community outside NYPL, the digital archivist will:

Establish a set of best practices for managing born digital material within archives held and acquired by NYPL:

• identify and engage the resources (hardware, software, vendors, peer institutions) available to perform migration from (obsolete) media containing born digital material
• develop (though hands on work and experimentation) and document procedures for the routine migration, description, and management of born digital archives during accessioning and/or processing
• train archivists and curators as necessary
• process archival collections with a substantial volume of born digital records
• lead efforts to locate born digital material in previously processed archival collections and develop plans for their retrospective management 

Enhance the Library’s capacity to responsibly acquire electronic records and personal papers:

• evaluate proposed acquisitions with born digital components
• develop and document techniques and procedures for acquiring electronic records directly from record creators, transferring them directly into the Library’s repository
• coordinate acquisitions of electronic records, acting as a liaison between records creators and the Library’s curatorial, archival, and technical staff
• when necessary and possible, work directly with records creators to advise on record keeping practices that will facilitate the eventual transfer of their archives
• propose and investigate potential acquisitions 

Advise the Library’s Repository team on the functional requirements for acquiring, preserving, and serving born digital archives.

Collaborate with the curatorial units serving archives and manuscripts to develop the means to provide access to born digital materials.

Initiate, write, and contribute to grant proposals as appropriate.

Contribute to broader discussions surrounding the management of digital assets, metadata, and the representation and service of digital and digitized archival materials.

Serve as the Division’s and the Library’s internal and external representative and authority on issues related to born digital archives.

External Qualifications:

• Masters degree in Library Science or Archival Enterprise/Studies or other relevant field.
• At least three years experience working in an archival repository in a professional capacity, including experience working with born digital archival material
• Strong command of archival theory and best practices, especially as they relate to the particular issues posed by electronic records. Background in records management preferred.
• Familiarity and experience with disk imaging and email archiving tools and techniques preferred.
• Knowledge of DACS.
• Demonstrated familiarity with data structure standards relevant to the archival control of digital collection materials (EAD, Dublin Core, MODS, PREMIS);
• Successfully demonstrated experience training staff preferred.
• Project management experience
• Excellent writing and editorial skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of historical research methods, especially the use of archives
• Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as collaboratively and to meet planned goals and deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to think creatively, then initiate and carry through innovative ideas