Voicethread

Tweet Classes started Wed, August 24th. What a short summer!  One of the first activities we engaged in utilized a tool called voicethread.   This tool allows the creator to upload images, documents, or video and begin a conversation around that content.  Participants can post a comment in one of 5 ways:  voice (mike), voice (telephone), text, audio file, or video (via webcam).  Images of the participants form a border around the content, as shown at the left.  Learn all about this free tool at http://voicethread.com/

Society of American Archivists 360 Conference, Chicago, August 22-27, 2011

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If you're not here, you are missing some very good sessions.  One session titled, What Happens After 'Here Comes Everybody,' was presented by a panel that included the author of Web 2.0 Tools and Strategies for Archives and Local History Collections, Kate Theimer. The focus was on "participatory archives" and included examples of the ways in which non-archivists are contributing content and metadata to archival projects. The abstract reads:

Many archivists believe the key to the success of our profession in the future lies in effectively harnessing the participatory culture of the Web. But what does it really mean to be a “participatory archives”? The speakers provide a definition and examples of participatory archives, discuss the latest research on the impact of user participation on authenticity, reliability and credibility, and share research about user collaboration efforts at the National Archives (UK).

A sell out session (seriously several hundred people and I felt lucky to find a spot on the floor) was Practical Approaches to Born-Digital Records: What Works Today (part 1 of 2). Part 2 is tomorrow and I'm afraid I'll miss it...unless the storm causes a delay in my travel plans.  The abstract for part 1 can speak for itself:

The panelists present and discuss effective ways to manage born-digital records today. The chair and five practicing archivists lead a discussion of specific projects that marry traditional archival processes to digital curation tools, covering such areas as beginning a program, surveying records, accessioning, processing, and providing access. The speakers provide examples of how professional practice has come “360”: new tools inform traditional theory and vice versa in practical approaches to born-digital records.

 Plan now for next year's conference. The program theme, thinking "Beyond Borders," is designed to help us envision new opportunities beyond our institutions and specializations, to expand our perceptions of history, culture, memory, and recordkeeping to arrive at a more inclusive and holistic view of the great work of archives. If you are interested in submitting a proposal for that conference, see the call for papers.

IFLA Conference - August 13-18, 2011, San Juan, Puerto Rico

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The World Library and Information Congress 2011, 77th IFLA General Conference Assembly took place in Puerto Rico this past week.  It provided the opportunity for library and information professionals from around the globe to exchange ideas and learn from one another. This was my first IFLA conference but it won't be the last.  The theme this year was: Libraries beyond libraries: Integration, Innovation and Information for all.  The challenge of creating, managing and preserving digital information was a topic of several workshops I attended (and even one at which I presented).  One session reminded me of the virtual time capsule project required of LIBR 284 Archivists: Meet Web 2.0. It was on e-legal deposit: from legislation to implementation; from ingest to access.  Representatives from several countries--including France, Finland, UK, and Chile--explained the processes they use to capture, manage and attempt to preserve digital objects from the web.  No, the picture isn't from the conference site. Who could resist a trip to the El Yunque rain forest when in Puerto Rico?

Highlights from the 2nd Annual VCARA Conference in SL

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I see the last post made was 'before' the conference.  The 2 months since have flown by--very busy with a number of tasks that I'll fill you in on eventually.  Right now, though, thanks to Caed Aldwych and Brande Hall Gex, the two keynote speakers at the May 24th conference.  

 

Caed shared the history of The Road to Deadwood build with an enthralled audience.  He even brought a set from the wild, wild west to provide an authentic background for his presentation.  

 Brande shared the results of her research into the preservation of virtual worlds, forcing the audience to consider the question, "Should we? and if so, How will we?  preserve virtual worlds, like The Road to Deadwood, for future generations? 

These keynotes were followed by a tour of 7 poster presentations.  At each stop, the researcher responsible for the presentation provided a summary of their work and findings, and visitors were encouraged to return later to listen to the podcast if they wanted to hear the presentation in more detail.  

Each of the poster presentations provided the visitor a glimpse into the lives and times of individuals, either past or present, including Lower East Side Tenement Museum in NYC, Virtual Texas, 9/11 New York City & DC, American Reality Television, Web 2.0 & the Fluxus Movement, Last Soul Surviving Knowledge Keepers, Nodaway, and A Foodie on Each Continent.

If you missed the conference and wold like to visit the poster presentations, just log into Second Life and head to SLURL: http://tinyurl.com/VCARA

VCARA 2nd annual Conference in SL/Meet Caed Aldwych, co-founder of The Road to Deadwood

Tweet Caed Aldwych, co-founder of the Road to Deadwood, is one of two keynote speakers at the 2nd annual conference to be held in the Virtual Center for Archives and Records Administration (VCARA) at 5:30 p.m. SLT (pacific time) on Tuesday, May 24. If you haven't visited yet, you should!  Caed will explain the tought process that went into developing this environment and describe its social and economic model.


Brande Gex, MARA 2011 graduate and the 2nd keynote speaker at 6:00 p.m. SLT (pacific time), will describe her efforts to develop an appraisal process for virtual worlds, including Second Life.  


Following the keynotes, conference participants will move to the open courtyard to view and hear presentations on 8 unique glimpses into "lives and times past and present."  Poster presentation topics are:  Last Soul Surviving Knowledge Keepers," "There's a Photographer in  Your Town: Brining Family Stories and Photographs to Life," "Lower East Side Tenement Museum in NYC," "Virtual Texas: Information delivery into virtualw worlds," "9/11 New York & DC: A Decade of Revival," "American REality TV Virtual Time Capsule," "Web 2.0 and the Fluxus Movement," and "Around the world in one day: A foodie on each continent."  


Everyone is welcome--you do not need to be a SLIS student, alum, or grad to attend. Plan to join us on VCARA beginning at 5:30 p.m. SLT on Tuesday, May 24.  The SLURL is http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SJSU%20SLIS/50/25/33

SLIS Commencement 2011

Tweet Approximately 178 of the over 700 SLIS graduates attended commencement ceremonies in San Jose on Saturday, May 21.  Dr. Ken Hayckock, former SLIS Director and commencement speaker, encouraged the graduates to consider employement opportunities by how well they fit the student's interests and goals and not by  job title, stressing that in over 40 years in the field, he has never held a position with the title of "libriarian." The digital environment has brought with it a myriad of opportunities for graduates of SLIS; the task of finding just the right opportunitiy is now up to each individual graduate.  Congratulations and good luck to all!!

Reflections on a semester almost over

Tweet It's been a busy few weeks, and instead of blogging I've been teaching and reviewing final projects and reports. One report, in particular, struck me with how much the worlds of archives, records, and even museums are converging. To learn more about one Master of Archives and Records Administration student's semester-long experience in the archives at the Museum of Idaho, read his blog.

Start at the bottom with week one and work your way to week 16--the end of his successful internship experience. Note the variety of tasks completed that include accessioning, scanning, working on both wired and wireless networks, and indexing using PastPerfect. This is a small museum that required someone with knowledge in archives, records, and information technology/management.  John is an example of the 'new breed' of "recordkeeper" that exemplifies the "convergence" of knowledge and skills needed today.