BC Digitization Coalition
Meeting Minutes
October 18, 2010
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
| Attendance: Simon Neame (Chair), Mimi Lam (Minutes), Alissa Cherry, Gordon Coleman, Anita Cocchia, Lynn Copeland, Brian Owen, Allan Bell
Telephone: Ken Cooley, Janine Johnston, Chris Mathieson Guests: Mark Jordan, Bronwen Sprout, John Durno (Phone), Caroline Haythorthwaite |
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| Regrets: Kate Russell, Brenda Smith, Lara Wilson | ||
| Welcome & Introduction | ||
| Agenda Item | Summary | Action |
| 1. Website Discussion a. Feedback on content |
Simon went over goals and main issues for the website. Mimi walked through the newest additions to the website: Reports and Documents, Services, FAQ, Digitization Resources, Meeting Minutes. The coalition offered feedback and comments on structure and content of website. The Services section could be more visible to highlight the services offered by Coalition. Additional buttons could be added to the Welcome page to draw users to Services and Resources. A balance has to be found between the activities of the coalition and its partners. | Mimi will continue revision of the website based on feedback from the coalition over the next few weeks. |
| b. Branding | There was consensus among Coalition members that the website should retain the West Beyond the West brand. Discussion followed that clarified that West Beyond the West represented the entire digitization initiative. The search portal is the main show piece of the initiative and the coalition is the group that supports and advocates a digitization initiative. Confusion between the two branches of West Beyond the West can be clarified by structuring the services as a bundle with an official landing page. | Mimi will work on re-structuring the website to reflect the vision of West Beyond the West. She will also work on a landing page that will then direct users to the search portal and coalition websites. |
| c. Domain name & launch | A number of domain names have been purchased in anticipation of the new website. The domain names will be kept and all traffic will be directed to the new website once it is launched. | Soft launch of the website is planned for the end of November. Gordon will coordinate with Mimi in order to re-direct traffic from old website. A more public announcement of the new website is planned for January 2011. |
| 2. Update from Software Working Group | Gordon introduced the Software Working Group members that were present at the meeting and gave background about the formation and the goals of the Working Group. The three core needs for the portal were outlined: Give end users a way to find materials, offer a hosting service for small organizations who want to digitize materials, and enable metadata transformation. Gordon then presented the two models by which these needs could be met. Model A is a more centralized model that saw BC hosting all three core needs identified. Model B split responsibilities with Canadiana. The cost implications associated with both models were also presented. Discussion followed where the pros and cons of both models were weighed. The coalition members seem comfortable with Model B. | The Software Working Group is planning to put out a final report about these options at the end of January. Cost estimates will be included. |
| 3. Mobile LIS teaching lab discussion (Caroline Haythorthwaite – SLAIS) | Caroline talked about a donor opportunity in development for a mobile unit that will allow for community engagement. Some ideas for this mobile unit include: teaching users about searching online, using computers for various functions and as a mobile ‘research lab” for LIS studies. Caroline hoped that the Coalition could give additional ideas for this opportunity that may appeal to the donor. Caroline then opened up the floor for the Coalition to offer feedback for her to take back to the donor. The Coalition suggested potential for the mobile unit to also teach digitization best practices, serve as a place where people can bring items for digitization, seed digitization projects in various communities, and collect information about digitization projects. First Nations and remote communities would be well served by this mobile unit. Coalition members were very excited about this opportunity and there was discussion about the value of oral histories and materials being held in many rural and remote communities. There’s also discussion about bringing corporate funding on board too. The Coalition expressed interest and willingness to help this proposal along. | Caroline will take the idea to the donor and will keep the coalition informed on the process. |
| Next Meeting: Early January | ||