BC Digitization Coalition
Meeting Minutes – September 9, 2010
Attendance: Brenda Smith, Janine Johnston, Kate Russell, Alissa Cherry, Gordon Coleman, Brian Owen, Lynn Copeland, Anita Cocchia, Simon Neame (Chair), Moira Ekdahl, Ken Cooley (Phone), Mimi Lam (Minutes).
Regrets: Chris Mathieson, Heather Daly
1. Welcome and introductions
Mimi (New Digitization Coordinator) introduced herself to the Coalition and a round of introductions followed for her benefit.
2. Digitization Update Workshop debrief – Simon, Gordon & Anita
Simon gave a recap of the event: The event’s purpose was to bring people up to speed on current initiatives. Caroline Presser from Canadiana gave a brief overview of Canadiana.org. Caroline’s presentation got the group thinking nationally in addition to provincially. There was an update regarding the hiring of a digitization coordinator. There was also a facilitated discussion about the Coalition’s Components document. Gordon talked about DCB as an open source solution for access to digital collections. Chris Hives talked about the BC History Digitization Program (BCHDP) and was pleasantly surprised by the program’s notoriety.
Comments: Janine suggested that the Coalition could do more to highlight its role; to advocate for digital projects and to help people to connect with what they need to do their own projects. The group felt that the event was well received by attendees and the overall feedback on the event was positive. The Final Report would go up to the website in two versions (html with links and PDF). Janine suggested using a carousel for displaying slideshow on the web version of the report (ability to click on the images to link to relevant information).
ACTION: Janine will send photos to Mimi to incorporate into Digitization Update 2010 – Report (html and PDF version)
ACTION: Mimi will finalize and release report to sector listservs, session attendees and website
a. Next Steps
Gordon & Anita suggested new content for the website that clarifies the relationship between the Coalition and various other related initiatives (DCB, West Beyond the West Portal, BCHDP etc). There’s also the broader issue of HOW we communicate out to people. Mimi mentioned that the new website will have RSS feed so people can subscribe to updates. Currently our problem is that there is not enough information being put out. The idea of creating a new listserv or automatic subscription to RSS feed was suggested. Janine put forward the idea that Mimi could be a part of all the list servs from the different sectors as a representative of the Coalition (BCMA, AABC, BCLA, etc.). There is no charge to be part of the email lists and it will highlight BCDC as a distinct group.
ACTION: Mimi will revise the Digitization Update 2010 – Report to include General next steps, revision to Components document (Version September 9, 2010)
3. Review of Components document and feedback – All
The committee review the feedback received at the June 15 Digitization Update event on the Components of a Provincial Digitization Initiative document. Some comments, such as the need to more cross-understanding between various competing meta-data standards were taken into consideration as part of the Coalition’s activities, but not integrated directly into the Components document. Other suggestions, such as the need for the Coalition to develop awareness of key issues such as preservation and copyright were added to the document under a heading for the general education role of the Coalition, mainly developed using the web-based resources.
ACTION: Mimi will draft the changes to the Components document and send to the Coalition members for review.
4. Update from Canadiana.org – Lynn
Projects underway: At the moment, the priority is loading content (metadata). They did significant reworking and rebuilding of metadata repository based on work Peter Van Gaarderen did. The portal is in Beta right now. Mass loading capabilities have been improved over the summer and new content is being added all the time including: a significant number of Alouette Canada and Knowledge Ontario records, U of Toronto materials, Chinese Times, Foreign Affairs Statements and Press Releases, LAC, Canadiana, Multicultural Canada, Internet Archive, University of Manitoba, U of Alberta. A recent example is the University of Alberta’s project to digitize CIHM’s microfiche that will then be harvested by Canadiana.org. Big universities should coordinate these efforts. Currently the working group is looking into that possibility.
Update from technical and user groups: DigiMobile concept has changed to a model where a local organization will host a digitization ‘shops’ that members of the local community can access to digitize materials. This pilot project is based on an Oxford University project funded through JISC.
Membership: Lynn mentioned that Canadiana.org is reviewing membership categories and there will be more follow-up this year and clarification about membership categories and benefits. Consortia can be members to represent their organizations and there is talk about relationship between provincial/regional initiative and what’s happening nationally (WBTW à Canadiana)
Eco subscription is looking at regional subscriptions. There is potential there for good stuff.
5. Software working group – Gordon
Provincial Digitization Search Portal Working Group arose out of the meeting with the Coalition, UBC, SFU, UVic, and VPL. The suggestion was made to form a working group to look at West Beyond The West portal and explore alternative software options. Gordon is the chair of the group. Currently the group is finalizing the Functional Requirements document. In October they are hoping to come up with a short list of recommendations for the Coalition.
ACTION: Gordon will invite members of the Software Working Group to next meeting
6. Coalition website update – Mimi
Mimi gave a brief update on the new website. She has transferred all of the Coalition documents from the old website as well as loaded all of the meeting minutes to the site. The new site is a WordPress blog so there are blog-like features such as an RSS feed. This is useful for posting news and announcements since site subscribers will receive updates this way. She also talked briefly about the digitization resources guide she has been working on. Mimi will be sending out the URL to the test site so Coalition members can review the site.
A transition plan will be devised for moving from the old site. Gordon and Anita have purchased domain names and have a variety of options for when the site does go live. DCB needs to be more visible on the new site.
ACTION: Mimi will continue work on the web site and also create a FAQ page that will address some concerns raised in the feedback from the Digitization Update
7. Closing remarks, announcements
Janine mentioned Archivematica which is an open source digital preservation system that works with ICA-AtoM. There was also a brief discussion of some upcoming DCB training opportunities.
It was decided that the next meeting should happen in mid to late October. Mimi will send out the meeting request. It was suggested that we invite members of the Software Working Group to get an informal update about the upcoming report. Branding and launch of the website will also be on the agenda for the next meeting.
End.