Newsletter: August 2008
Metadata Librarian
Two weeks into the month Anna Craft, Hunter’s new Metadata Librarian, arrived on campus. Tim Carstens and I met numerous times to discuss how to fully integrate Anna into the process. We each provided her with orientation and training. She will eventually get around to meeting all the Partners but, for now, she’s been to the Mountain Heritage Center where Peter Koch gave her a Partner’s perspective. We have a meeting scheduled with Deb Schillo at the Southern Highland Craft Guild. Ginny Daley met with Anna about metadata application and reviewed various conventions we have adopted over the three years of the project. Anna has taken several online tutorials and is quickly becoming Hunter’s resident Content DM expert…and none too soon….
Contentdm
The concern of our metadata team—two Anna’s and Tim—has been taken up with the discovery of a new scramble of metadata and images. We have contacted Contentdm and are trying to determine if these were images that were overlooked in the previous scramble or if this is a new issue. We are very concerned about this and are working with Contentdm to rectify the problem and to make sure it does not happen again. We have not been able to determine if this is an isolated incident or if Contentdm has had problems like this with other clients.
Robin Hitch
Robin Hitch has joined the Home Team as the project’s technical team member. Previously Robin had worked with us on equipment and training, but as we move forward this year, she will be taking on additional responsibilities. Robin has recently repaired and delivered Penland’s computer, replacing the DVD burner. She has installed external hard drives on the Guild’s and MHC’s computers. Robin will be making her way around to other Partner sites as well. We are currently working on configuring a workstation for the Museum of the Cherokee. Any Partners having technical issues can contact Robin directly at 227-2210. Melissa Young will continue to build the web pages.
Serenity Richards
Serenity has been working behind the scenes, uploading images into Contentdm all summer. She will continue to assist Anna C. with this task as Tim moves away from the day-to-day work of the project, back to his responsibilities as head of the Cataloging unit.
Qualla baskets
Jason and I have completed two more basket shoots and are writing the metadata and descriptions for these. We have gone back to correct some mistakes from the first basket shoot. We have a few more baskets to record and then we’ve completed all of the rivercane baskets in Qualla’s collection. We will move onto white oak next. Now that we have our team in place, we’ll soon be adding the new basket shoots to the database.
Metadata template in Word
We are creating a new workflow—bringing more tasks into the Library—to simplify the work of the project’s Partners, to avoid a duplication of effort, and to minimize metadata corrections. We have uploaded a Word template onto the Library Insider page; there is both the template and a sample. This is a work in progress and we are “testing” the template with Qualla’s baskets. We invite previous Partners to use the template or, if they prefer, they can continue submitting items directly into Contentdm the same way they have been doing all along. While this creates a little extra work on the part of the Home Team—that of having two different ways of doing things—in the spirit of collaboration, we are attempting to accommodate the needs of Partners individually while at the same time creating a workflow within the Hunter Library to better build its digital collections.
New additions to the database
Heritage Partners have begun to send in items and Anna has had her hands full learning the process while the collection is active. We have new items up from the Mountain Heritage Center, including 360 degree-rotations of the Chiltoskey bears and Nicholson corn husk pieces. Also a spinning wheel, some fiddles, and pottery by W.B. Stephen. The SHCG has added images of Brasstown Carvers at the Gatlinburg Fair and objects, including dolls, coverlets, pottery, etc. We have baskets from Qualla in the pipeline and will begin scanning at the Museum of the Cherokee. Anna will begin reviewing the LCSH headings and reconfiguring those across the collection. We also plan to take a hard look at the Search and Browse functions and to work on improving those.
Image quality
After much discussion, the Home Team decided to eliminate the 72 dpi images in favor of uploading 300 dpi scans. This was done because so many of the documents—especially those that are handwritten—were difficult to read. I tested out the new 300 dpi images on my at-home computer where I have dial-up. The images are very clear, much better than before. It took almost one minute for a document to load, not too bad. For those with faster connections, there won’t be any noticeable difference in the download time, but an improved clarity and usability are noticeable. Melissa has completed swapping out all the currently loaded images. From now on, Anna and Serenity will be adding 300 dpi’s to the new uploads rather than the 72 dpi’s.
New on site
We have two new biographies on the site, wood workers:
a biography of Jesse Stalcup—by Suzanne McDowell
http://craftrevival.wcu.edu/people/jessestalcup.html
Bio on Brasstown wood worker Herman Estes
http://craftrevival.wcu.edu/people/hermanestes.html
HandMade in America has been added to the Craft Today section
http://craftrevival.wcu.edu/story/handmadeinamerica_today.html
A list of related research publications are linked from the Contact Us page (click after my name on Research)
http://craftrevival.wcu.edu/about/contact.html
Recent news articles have been added to the Press Box
http://craftrevival.wcu.edu/about/pressroom.html
I am currently working on a web page for Rivercane Baskets, an intro to the Basket Pattern Index, and a number of Cherokee basketmaker biographies.
Promotion
A poster display was part of the recent Friends of Mountain History and Museums in Partnership meeting in Asheville where 40 museum staffers participated in an all-day workshop.
Grant accounts
Margaret Watson, Budget Manager, has completed the paperwork to set up the new ECHO grant account. This is finally complete, not a small task in the state system. We could not complete this process without a copy of the fully executed grant agreement, which has arrived from the State Library. Margaret and I are also working with the central grants staff to close out the 2007-08 grant account. We have until the end of September to submit the yearend budget and yearend report. Margaret and I are working on the budget figures; Jason and I are working on the narrative. I have drafted job descriptions for new Scanning and Research Assistants and am currently interviewing for those positions. Jason Woolf and Tonya Carroll will continue on the project; both are enrolled in WCU’s Public History graduate program.
Advisory/Partner meeting
We have deferred our usual Advisory meetings to take time to establish our new workflow procedures here at the library. We hope to be able to get everyone together soon, but for now, while we are doing most of the work in-house, we don’t have too many reasons to meet. I will be attending the Society of NC Archivists meeting at ASU in a few weeks where I hope to see some of you. Otherwise, if any Partner has questions or comments, please give us a call or send an email.
Email news list
I have added a number of names to receive this newsletter, most from WCU’s Tsalagi Institute. If you do not wish to receive the monthly news, please hit “Reply” and send me a note to remove your name.
Anna
Hunter Library | Library Insider | Last updated: 9/15/08 Melissa Young