CDC Digital Collections Task Force

[Jennifer Weintraub <jennifer.weintraub@yale.edu>]

Hello,

The CDC Digital Collections Task Force met from October 2003 -May 2004. 
This email will summarize the work of the task force.

 The Task Force interviewed selectors and managers of digitization 
projects from across the library.  These interviews are summarized in the 
meeting notes (available at:
http://www.library.yale.edu/CDC/public/subcommittees/DigitalCollectionsTF/ ).

In addition, based on the meetings, we created two documents, linked from 
the page above.

-Digital Collections Summary, which is a chart with fields for information 
about each project.  This summary can be expanded in the future as more 
collections are developed or collection parameters change.
http://www.library.yale.edu/CDC/public/subcommittees/DigitalCollectionsTF/digital.summary.pdf

-Criteria for Selection for Digitization.  This document describes 
criteria for good digital projects from the point of view of content 
selection.  This document does not address format, metadata or technical 
specifications for digital projects.  The Task Force agreed these issues 
should be addressed by another group, one with more knowledge of issues in 
digital library systems.
http://www.library.yale.edu/CDC/public/subcommittees/DigitalCollectionsTF/criteria.selection.doc

Our Task Force also had several recommendations for CDC (also listed on the 
page).  They are:

 -Yale University Library needs a strategic plan and/or overarching policy 
for how and why we create digital collections.  CDC should participate in 
creating such a plan with other library groups.

 -CDC should endorse the formation of a Developer's Forum, which is 
currently being formed by the Integrated Access Council.  This group would 
enable further communication on a technical level among librarians at 
Yale.  CDC should recommend that a liason to CDC be on the Developer's 
Forum.

-Selectors who are developing digitization projects or grant proposals 
should create a formal proposal and discuss it at the Developer's Forum 
or with those who are doing similar projects in order to get feedback or 
advice.  Information about current projects and contact people can be found 
in the Digital Collection Summary document.

-Selectors need best practices guides to digitize materials and to create 
metadata for digital collections.  Other groups should be formed to create 
these practices or adapt from other libraries' practices.

-The Task Force saw a need for better communication with the development 
office in regards to more fundraising or grant writing for digital 
collections.

-The Task Force also recommends continuing communication about digital 
collections, through maintenance of the documents created by the task force 
and the addition of other groups' documents as appropriate.

Please let me know if you have any comments about the work of the group, 
find any errors in our Digital Summary document, or would like to add any 
projects or information.

Jennifer

for the CDC Digital Collections Task Force

Katie Bauer
Emily Horning
Sandy Peterson
Karen Reardon
Cesar Rodriguez
Jae Rossman
David Walls
Jen Weintraub (Chair)