NDSA:Innovation Meeting Minutes 11-05-12

NDSA Innovation Working Group Call November 5, 2012 2pm-3pm

In Attendance

• Sheila Morrissey, Portico
• Doug Reside, NYPL
• Ben Vershbow, NYPL
• Mitch Brodsky, NY Philharmonic
• Steven Abrams, CDL
• Rachel Frick, DLF
• Micah Beck, University of Tennessee
• Jon Voss, HistoryPin
• Jefferson Bailey, Metropolitan New York Library Council
• Jane Mandelbaum, Library of Congress
• Trevor Owens, Library of Congress

Action Items

• Next call: Monday January 7, 2013 2pm-3pm EST
• Google doc for Interviews for Blog: Trevor (done, see link below)
• Google doc for Funders series: (done, see link below)
• More info on SWAT project: Jefferson (included below)

Working Group Logistics

• Wiki: If you need wiki access (or a p/w re-set) email Trevor (trow@loc.gov) and he can take care of it.
• Calls: We will have bi-monthly calls on the first Monday of the month at 2pm EST. Next working group call will be January 7, 2013, 2pm-3pm EST.
• On off months we may schedule action team calls or full Working Group calls for special events such as discussions/presentations with funders, technologists, and others working on innovative projects.

Innovation Insights Interview Series

• The public Google with details on the interview series is located here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WVLg5yBBkzNa5moriTaKB7w8MwEYnEmYJ5eYGXf9EN8/edit
• Also check the wiki page re the interview project NDSA:Broadening and Networking the Field of Research in Digital Preservation
• Use this doc to post interview ideas, use the sample "asking for an interview" email template, use the sample interview questions, and to post a link to completed interviews. It's one-stop innovation interview shopping!
• Would be good to have scheduled interviews, like one a month or every other month.
• The project aims to bring in people outside of the “usual suspects” of the digital preservation world. They can be operating in related industries or fields impacted by digital stewardship practices or can be recently launched or still-developing innovative projects/tools that would benefit from the broader exposure.
• Interviews can also be tied to events, such as conferences or awareness events (like Preservation Week).
• Interviews have been easiest to do over email or a google doc (i.e. asynchronously).
• The interview series has been a real success so we encourage everyone to take part.

Innovation Awards

• Handed out at the annual NDIIPP/NDSA meeting and winner received funded travel and hotel to attend and accept their award
• Check the awards webpage for categories: http://www.digitalpreservation.gov/ndsa/awards.html
• Need a team of 5 people. Sheila, Rachel, & Jefferson will be on team. We mentioned maybe having a past winner also be on the team. We will solicit the rest from Innovation and then from NDSA-All.
• Process is lightweight (3-4 calls), just repeat last year. Launch via a Signal post and some listserv/twitters bombing in late February or so. Winners selected in May to give winners time to plan for late July travel to conference.

Kickstarter

• Is there a place or utility for us to be offering pre-kickstarter advice or guidance to projects we like?
• We should put together a list of resources or use cases about what makes a successful project -- something identifying the "significant properties" of successful innovative projects.
• Also, we should consult with Outreach to get their insight on the Kickstarter project and what they have learned.
• Lastly, we can find specific projects and then feature them in interviews and/or follow them afterwards.

Challenges

• Here is the link to a previous challenge idea: http://www.loc.gov/extranet/wiki/osi/ndiip/ndsa/index.php?title=Storage_ping
• Any other ideas for challenges?
• We can put together a list of other challenges we can draw from

SWAT

• Here is Jefferson's blog post talking about the OCLC reports: http://blogs.loc.gov/digitalpreservation/2012/10/get-your-bits-off-old-storage-media/
• Here is the specific OCLC SWAT paper: http://www.oclc.org/content/dam/research/publications/library/2012/2012-08.pdf
• OCLC is trying to put together a pilot project to set up the parameters of a "service model" for matching vintage computing museums/clubs/communities and LAMs.
• Jefferson is interested in the idea from the angle of creating a consortial, community-based, use-oriented SWAT (software and workstations for antiquated technology) space where LAMs can book time/technicians to get bits off old media. It would be priced at cost-recovery or as a member service.
• NDSA Innovation can play an advisory role in helping outline/define the model.

Events

• NDSA will be hosting CurateCamp-like outreach/education/meet-up style events around the country.
• This is more a project of Outreach, but Jefferson will host one in NYC in early 2013.
• Ping Jane, Trevor, or Jefferson if you are interested in more details or also hosting an event.

Funders Series

• Google doc describing idea, listing/soliciting potential speakers, & with sample invite email is here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BzAYWuliAmBOp0RkZoHkkohd1QwgN5yvYPF1OYbTrtw/edit
• Idea to talk with grant funders about how they approach funding innovation. This could inform or guide the aforementioned Kickstarter project.
• Can be a webinar or conference all similar to the NDSA Infrastructure FLOSS interview projects. Would be open to all NDSA.
• This could happen in off-months when there isn't a group call.