techMETRO

METRO Announces Collaborative Digitization Grant Awards for 2010/2011

Eight institutions in New York City and Westchester have been awarded grant funding to support a range of digitization projects designed to expand access to important collections of historical and rare materials. Recipients of the 2010 Digital Metro New York (DMNY) grants, totaling almost $70,000, were announced today by the Metropolitan New York Library Council (METRO).

Libraries, archives, and other research organizations selected to receive METRO digitization grants this year include the New York Public Library, Fashion Institute of Technology, Center for Jewish History, Hadassah Archives at the American Jewish Historical Society, The Frick Collection, Brooklyn Museum, Queens College (City University  of New York), and Queens Borough Public Library. Awardees were chosen based on a rigorous application and review process designed to identify initiatives that would have the strongest impact on research and access to vital materials from important collections in the New York area.

“Collaboration between institutions is often difficult, and the organizations selected to receive METRO grants this year show an acute understanding of the components needed for successful collaboration toward shared digital collection building goals,” said Dottie Hiebing, Metro’s executive director.

DMNY funding is available to eligible members of METRO through a competitive application and project review process. The projects selected for the 2010/2011 grant cycle reflect the breadth and depth of special collections in the metropolitan New York region. Following are the libraries and projects selected for 2010 METRO collaborative digitization grants:

• Queens Contemporary History Pilot Project; Queens College Library (CUNY), Queens Borough Public Library
• Documenting the Gilded Age: New York City Exhibitions at the Turn of the 20th Century; The Frick Collection, Brooklyn Museum
• André Studios: 1930s Fashion Drawings and Sketches; New York Public Library and Fashion Institute of Technology Library
• Hadassah Newsletters and Audio Reels; Center for Jewish History and Hadassah Archives at American Jewish Historical Society

“Support for this project will allow us to enhance public access to existing records of historical and contemporary life in Queens neighborhoods; providing a record of change in development, population, community lifestyles and identities,” said Natalie Milbrodt, Project Manager for the Queens College collaboration with Queens Borough Public Library

Over the last 5 years, METRO’s DMNY program has distributed over $380,000 to help fund over 40 projects at more than 28 METRO member institutions. Managed by METRO, Digital METRO New York supports the implementation of digitization projects among METRO member libraries and archives. METRO lends vital additional support for digitization projects through specialized education and training programs and opportunities for “digitally ready” libraries to share expertise and best-practice digitization strategies.

METRO’s digitization program is supported by funds from the New York State Regional Bibliographic Database Program. For more information about METRO’s involvement in digitization projects, visit http://bit.ly/dkbS1k.

About METRO

The Metropolitan New York Library Council (METRO) is a non-profit organization working to develop and maintain essential library services throughout New York City and Westchester County. METRO's service is developed and delivered with broad input and support from an experienced staff of library professionals, the organization's member libraries, an active board of trustees, government representatives and other experts in research and library operations.

As the largest reference and research resources (3Rs) library council in New York State, METRO members reflect a wide range of special, academic, archival and public library organizations. In addition to training programs and support services, METRO also works to bring members of the New York City and Westchester County library communities together to promote ongoing exchanges of information and ideas.

ACRL/NY User Experience Discussion Group to Meet Nov. 12 -- Open to All

This was recently posted to the METRO Library 2.0 Special Interest Group listserv and might be of interest to readers:

Are you interested in doing User Experience Studies at your library but don't know how? Join ACRL/NY's User Experience Discussion Group on Friday, November 12th at Mercy College Manhattan Campus (66 West 35th Street  (check-in with security to get room number) from 9:15am to 10:30am to meet librarians interested in and working on user experience studies.

We will discuss types of projects and interviewing techniques for getting effective answers out of our patrons, faculty and colleagues. Networking from 9:15am-9:30am, discussion from 9:30am-10:30am. Refreshments will be served. This meet-and-greet is open to anyone (i.e. you do not have to be a member of ACRL/NY) . You will need ID to get into the building.
http://acrlnyux.wordpress.com/2010/10/22/fall-meet-and-greet-friday-1112-mercy-college/

"Building a Digital Branch" Webinar with @davidleeking on November 11

On Thursday, November 11, METRO will welcome David Leek King to our Online Training Center for a “Building the Digital Branch” webinar.  Join us from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM and learn some tips on how to expand your library’s web-based capabilities.

Having an effective, user-friendly online presence is essential, now more than ever, to libraries of all sizes.  During this one-hour webinar, instructor David Lee King will take students through the process of building an online digital branch where customers can interact with both library staff and each other.

Registration fees: $20 members; $20 myMETRO; $40 non-members
To register or to learn more, please visit http://bit.ly/b5LiiF.
This webinar will take place online.

Please contact Laura Forshay at [email protected], 212.228.2320 x10 with any questions.

ALA's OITP Seeks Best Library Practices Using Cutting Edge Tech

This has been making the rounds, but bears repeating. Send in your nominations:

The American Library Association (ALA) Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP) is once again soliciting nominations for best library practices using cutting-edge technology. 

Last year, OITP’s America’s Libraries for the 21^st Century Subcommittee launched the “cutting-edge” contest to showcase libraries that serve their communities with novel and innovative methods and to provide the library community with some successful models for delivering quality library services in new ways. 

Christine Lind Hage, chair of the subcommittee, said the wide response to the 2009 call was so inspiring, the subcommittee knew another contest was in order. Last year, three libraries were cited for their outstanding work. 

“These winners showed that libraries of all sizes can do innovative projects that are worthy of replication across library types,” Hage said. 

“With all the creative technological work being done in libraries, I’m sure that this year we’ll see some exciting apps, projects or services that we’ll want to showcase.” 

Nominations should be sent to the American Library Association, Office for Information Technology Policy, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, 1st Floor, Washington, D.C. 20009 or to [email protected] by November 1, 2010.  Details for the nomination process are available on the OITP website.

Project IDS: Innovative Library Services & OS Software Tools

The LACUNY Emerging Technologies Committee and the LACUNY ILL Roundtable have a program next week that might be of interest to readers:

Project IDS: Innovative Library Services and Open Source Software Tools
Date: Friday, October 29th
Time: 1:30 - 3:30
Location: Fashion Institute of Technoloy, Seventh Avenue at 27 Street, Manhattan [http://www.fitnyc.edu/1888.asp]
Cost: None
RSVP: [email protected]

Presenters:

• Ed Rivenburgh - IDS Project Director, SUNY Geneseo Library Director
• Cyril Oberlander - IDS Project Consultant, SUNY Geneseo Assistant Library Director
• Kevin Reiss - University Systems Librarian, Office of Library Services, City University of New York

The Information Delivery Services (IDS) Project is an innovative and longstanding resource sharing initiative among a growing group of New York State libraries [http://idsproject.org/] . The work being done under the guises of IDS now touches most facets of library work. This program will be of interest to library managers, collection development librarians, acquisitions librarians, library technologists, and resource sharing/interlibrary loan librarians alike. Come to hear about where Project IDS is going, where it has been, and how your library might take advantage of some of the innovative services and open source software that IDS member libraries are working together to support and develop [http://idsproject.org/About/memberlist.aspx]. The
presentation will include a discussion of the following:

• The History and Mission of Project IDS.
• IDS Resource Sharing Initiatives: Effective resource sharing is the core service of Project IDS. Project IDS has continually worked to refine and expedite resource sharing for both physical and electronic materials. In order to further this goal IDS has developed the Article License Information Availability Service (ALIAS) service [http://tinyurl.com/2en8d3r]. ALIAS involves aggregating the electronic holdings and ILL licensing terms of IDS member libraries and routes a given article request to the library in the IDS consortium best able to fulfill it. ALIAS is serving as the model for OCLC's next generation resource sharing system. Requests for articles to the IDS consortium are typically filled in less than 20 hours and are often filled in less than two hours.
• IDS Search: The IDS consortial search engine. IDS search uses the Worldcat Search API to provide a faceted search of IDS member library holdings with real-time integration with local ILS systems. IDS Search is a service open to all IDS project libraries. IDS Search is available at: [http:search.idsproject.org/]. IDS Search is also currently being prepared for an open-source software release for use by other libraries. For more information on IDS Search see the IDS search blog: [http://idssearch.wordpress.com/].
• The GIST Toolkit: A number of project IDS libraries are making their library acquisition and collection development processes more nimble, responsive and cost-effective through the use of the Getting It System Toolkit (GIST) an open-source toolkit that can be deployed in conjunction with the ILLiad resource sharing software. For more information see the GIST blog at: [http://gettingitsystemtoolkit.blogspot.com/] or view a recent presentation on GIST: [http://tinyurl.com/2wjgboy].

Membership in IDS is open to all New York State Libraries. There are no fees to be an IDS member or for IDS services. Please RSVP to attend the program by sending email to Kevin Reiss at [email protected].

Columbia University Rare Book & Manuscript Library Seeks Digital Archivist

Posted recently by Columbia University Libraries:

The Columbia University Rare Book & Manuscript Library (RBML) seeks a skilled and accomplished electronic records archivist to help design and implement a curatorial and archival program for born-digital materials. While this position is in the RBML, it will work with all of Columbia's special collections units in developing and coordinating a robust and consistent archival program for born digital materials.

Reporting to the Curator of Manuscripts and University Archivist, the Digital Archivist is responsible for identifying and managing born digital content in RBML collections.

Characteristic duties and responsibilities include:

• Develops and maintains file plans, retention schedules, procedure manuals and guides to support the effective collection and management of born digital content;
• Takes the lead in helping develop policies and technical standards for digital content creators, both within Columbia and within the professional archival community;
• Works with the University Archivist to survey campus departments, offices, and website for University digital assets of enduring legal, administrative, and historical value;
• Collaborates with the staff of the Libraries Digital Programs Division on the design and functional requirements for an electronic archives management and preservation system;
• Serves as the resource person for Columbia's special collections on evolving standards and best practices for born digital content management and administration;
• Keeps statistics and prepares regular reports on manuscript and archival processing; supports and participates in RBML reference and public service. Participates in unit-wide planning and committee activities;

One of the world's leading research universities, Columbia provides outstanding opportunities to work and grow in a unique intellectual community. Set in the Morningside Heights academic village, Columbia also presents the unmatched dynamism, diversity and cultural richness of New York City. The University Libraries, grounded in collections of remarkable depth and breadth, are also building extensive electronic resources and services. The Libraries at Columbia are committed to collegiality, professionalism, innovation and leadership.

We offer a salary commensurate with qualifications and experience and excellent benefits including 100% Columbia tuition exemption for self and family and assistance with University housing. Columbia will also pay 50% tuition for your dependent child who is a candidate for an undergraduate degree at another accredited college or university.

Minimum Degree Required: MLS or PhD or equivalent

Minimum Qualifications:
All applicants MUST meet these minimum qualifications to be considered for the position.

• MLS from ALA-accredited library school or the equivalent in theory and practice. Graduate work in the humanities or social sciences;
• Demonstrated knowledge of digital archival and record management theory and practice. Minimum 2 years experience in the acquisition, management, and curation of born digital assets (or equivalent combination of education and experience);
• Demonstrated familiarity with data structure standards relevant to the archival control of digital collection materials (EAD, Dublin Core, MODS);
• Working knowledge of XML and digital content creation/transformation tools;
• Knowledge of DACS archival descriptive standard;
• Basic familiarity with automated library information management systems, such as Voyager, and other online union catalogs such as WorldCat;
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a production-oriented, rapidly changing environment; and ability to meet project goals and deadlines.

EEO Statement Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

POSTING AND APPLICATION: http://academicjobs.columbia.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=53872

Location-Based Services Slated for Next Smart Phones and Mobile Computing Meeting

METRO's Smart Phones & Mobile Computing SIG will meet on Monday, November 8 from 3:00-4:30pm at METRO, 57 East 11th Street.  The topic will be location-based services (Foursquare, Gowalla, Twitter Places, Facebook, etc.), and all meetings are open to the entire library and archives community in the metropolitan New York area, and these meetings are free of charge. 

We would love to hear from other types of libraries.  Is your library on Foursquare (or another service)?  Would you like to share your experience (or plans) with the group?  Do you know someone who is doing something creative with geolocation?  If so, please contact one of the SIG's co-conveners.

Please RSVP at http://bit.ly/MobileNov8

SIG Co-Conveners:
Nancy Glassman, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 718-430-3108,[email protected]
Sarah Jewell, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center 646-643-4981,[email protected]
Karen Schneiderman, Brooklyn Law School 718-780-7980,[email protected]

Check out our METRO Libguide for news and updates: http://libguides.metro.org/mobilecomputingsig.

A Two-Parter: Practical and Open Source Software for Libraries

We're continuing our Trending webinar series with a two-part session in November. Join us on Monday, November 8th from 10:00 am -11:00 am for our next fall webinar, “Practical Open Source Software for Libraries: Part 1.”  Follow-up and take a closer look the next day, November 9th, with “Practical Open Source Software for Libraries, Part 2”.

Open source has become a valuable way for libraries to increase their flexibility and freedom with software.  During the first session of this two-part webinar series, instructor Nicole Engard will introduce students to open source software and how it is being used to improve library services.

Students who register for the second session will take a more in-depth look at specific applications that libraries worldwide are using now to improve services for patrons and staff alike.
*Please note that attendance at Part 1 is not required but is recommended as a pre-requisite for those who need more background on what open source is.

Part 1 registration fees: $20 members; $20 myMETRO; $40 non-members
To register or to learn more, visit http://bit.ly/a30HuZ.   

Part 2 registration fees: $20 members; $20 myMETRO; $40 non-members
To register or to learn more, visit http://bit.ly/9TnQK7.

Please contact Laura Forshay at [email protected], 212.228.2320 x10 with any questions

Digital Images Manager Position in NYC

The following was posted recently to the METRO-L listserv:

Digital Images Manager – New York City

Our New York Client seeks an experienced specialist with skills to manage a digital image database of photographs for newly created position. This is an in-house customized system that is rapidly expanding both in content and usage.

The ideal candidate will have a strong combination of educational qualifications, demonstrated experience, competencies and knowledge in the following areas:

Required Experience

Requirements:
Technical Requirements:
- Must have understanding of metadata and taxonomy constructs as related to controlled vocabularies within a digital asset management system.
- Must have knowledge of database content management principles. 
-High-level computer skills and the incentive to keep pace with innovation.
-At least four years progressively responsible experience with the concepts used to organize and retrieve digital visual resource information.
-Familiarity with current digital library technologies, benchmarks, and best practices.

Other Essential Skills:
-Demonstrated aptitude to plan, coordinate, and implement effective programs, projects, and services. 
-Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including presentation and training skills. 
-Organizational skills with the ability to handle complex analytical and detailed work with accuracy and precision.
-Interest in proactively assisting colleagues with numerous varied research queries for images.
-Able to work both independently or collaboratively in a multifaceted and fast paced context.

MLS Requirement
-Master’s degree in Library/Information Science.

Education Requirements
-Bachelor of Arts degree in art or architectural history, or closely related discipline.

Location
Manhattan

Job Type
Full-time

Reference No.
MW-2

Contact
Sarah Warner
Sarah L Warner and Associates LLC
240 East 68 Street
New York, New York 10065 USA
Phone: 212/869-3348
Email:  [email protected]

Open Access Week at CUNY -- Right Around the Corner!

Celebrating Open Access Week 2010, the CUNY colleges of Brooklyn will host several events to share open paths to scholarly information with students and faculty. Please read on for details, or visit the CUNY Open Access Week 2010 site. 

Please join the Brooklyn College Library and the Ursula C. Schwerin Library, New York City College of Technology, in marking Open Access Week this fall.

The Open Access movement has threaded its way into many avenues of human culture. Creators of literature, music, film and art are acknowledging the rich heritage that has enabled their own creative thinking and in turn are offering their productions to the greater community at no charge. Academic publishing has situated itself in the open access arena. The output, online, open-access scholarly literature, measures up to the same standards as other peer-reviewed and removes the economic and logistical barriers to access.

Throughout the week of October 18-24, 2010 we will be offering exciting programming at two locations to open your sensibilities to the benefits and practices of a open access information sharing. Look forward to a full week of exciting events:

Monday, October 18, 2-4 pm @ the Brooklyn College Library, Woody Tanger Auditorium

Open Access: How it Works / Will it Work for You?
Join a discussion of the viable models of open access publishing, learn where open access journals are indexed and come to understand the impact of open access publishing.

Open Access – Activism around the Emerging Issue in Scholarship
Learn about the government position on open access publishing, lobbying efforts to make information more accessible, student activism around the issue and the new, emerging Reader’s Bill of Rights for Digital Books.

Tuesday, October 19, 3-5 pm @ @ New York City College of Technology, Atrium 632 (Faculty Lounge)

Open Access Scholarly Publishing: How Can Faculty Get Involved?
Are you a faculty member interested in publishing your research and scholarship via open access methods? Join us to explore the practical considerations of OA publishing for faculty. We’ll discuss identifying OA peer-reviewed journals, using Creative Commons both to license your work and use work that others have licensed, and Open Journal Systems: a free, open source platform for publishing scholarly journals.

Wednesday, October 20, 6-9 pm @ the Brooklyn College Library, Woody Tanger Auditorium

Open Access in the Arts & Teaching
Performance and panelists including Doug Geers (BC/Music), Michael Mandiberg (CSI/Media Culture) and Nina Paley (http://www.ninapaley.com); full screening of Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues to follow panel presentation.

Thursday October 21, 12:45-2pm @ Ursula Schwerin Library, New York City College of Technology, Rm. A432 (Projection Room)

Cinem@tech Film Screening: RiP: A Remix Manifesto
Filmmaker Brett Gaylor explores issues of copyright in the information age. The film’s central protagonist is Girl Talk, a mash-up musician topping the charts with his sample-based songs. Creative Commons founder Lawrence Lessig, Brazil’s Minister of Culture Gilberto Gil, and pop culture critic Cory Doctorow are also along for the ride.

Thursday October 21, 5:30-7pm @ Ursula C. Schwerin Library, Atrium 632 (Faculty Lounge)

Web 2.0 Happy Hour: Open Access Course Materials
Open access textbooks and other curricular materials are popping up all over. What are the advantages for you and your students? How can you find and use these materials? Come learn about freely-available textbooks and more for your courses.