December 8, 2009 BHL Executive Committee notes
BHL Executive Conference Call December 8, 2009 Tuesday 11 a.m.
On call: Tom, Graham, Cathy, Connie, Chris, Martin
- TL-2 topic: Brill (publisher) needs to be contacted. Tom is concerned about the software development on our side. Need to integrate information into Citebank. Not a straightforward mapping. Tom doesn't want to contact them until we can address timing of software development. Graham noted that we basically need to cost this out so that we can get money to do it. Tom needs to talk directly with Brill and see what the options are once he returns from Cairo but before China. Chris suggested that Tom set up a conference call that includes some of those currently involved. Graham noted that we need to be clear about development timetable and costs.
ACTION--Tom will make contact and seek commonalities and include others in a conference call.
- EarthScape and commercial use: should talk with EFF lawyers. There is "no commercial use" clause in our contracts with publishers. Tom thinks reusing metadata without our intervention is ok. Chris summarized that: If they are indexing metadata and pointing back to content, this is absolutely ok. "Give it all away but have to come to "us"). Ok, if a non-commercial org. wants stuff, they can download and serve it. Compared to Google indexing any commercial site. Graham also made the point that if BHL needed to do work, then we need to ensure that the work is paid for at a commercial rate. What are the opportunities for pay-back or other contributions. Is there any work for us? Chris is thinking (hoping) not. Give them what we can for free and then if their product works out we can talk about compensation. The bottom line is that we have 3rd party developers working on the data and producing something that will be useful.
ACTION: Tom will summarize in a document and set up a call with EFF that includes Chris to determine reuse provisions.
- LAPI update: Chris had some interesting conversations in Columbia. Very supportive of BHL. Chris gave a brief talk and asked "what can BHL do for the plants initiative" (JSTOR separate subscription). Kevin Guthrie (tech guy) is in charge of the plants initiative part of JSTOR. Chris told them that BHL could provide protologues, references/synonomies, and in return we could host an index of JSTOR literature in Citebank. They want to meet with us in January or February. Interlinking of BHL/Botanicus was a clear priority. There is concern about sustainability by some. ACTION-Chris will introduce Tom over email and then they can plan a call for discussion in mid-January. ITHAKA is the umbrella organization for JSTOR, plant sciences initiatives.
- Alexandria Library: Pan-Arab Biodiversity Conference funded by Pan-Arab League; 15-20 countries represented and will meet at Alexandria Library in Cairo; Ismail Serageldin is head of Alexandria Library and is convener of meeting. Worked at UN, World Bank, in sustainable agriculture. Not clear to Tom what they want to do with BHL/EOL. They are well-funded so once it is clear what the direction will be, it could move quickly. This is an exploratory visit.
- Upcoming BHL Institutional Council Conference Call: What topics should we cover? Chris was supposed to send a list of development activities for prioritization. Graham will review BHL Europe. Connie suggested scanning issues as a topic. Missionstatement discussion should bubble up to the IC. No update on strategic plan. Nancy has begun a high-level public brochure but not completed.
ACTION: Tom to send agenda this afternoon.
- BHL-Europe update: Henning et al at NHM now. The conclusion was that there will be a tool ready for testing by the end of January: deduping tools for journals with monographs to follow shortly afterwards. This will be based on Bernard’s work and will be prototype, with operational system delivered around may 2010. European serials will be added to serials tool and monographs added to monograph tool. Something will be out quickly for use and then in about a year add bells and whistles and fixes. Simple approach aimed at users not catalogers. It is a merger of catalogs to create an index. It will be called "record merging" not de-duping. Animalbase will be included in the records merger. Francisco Welter-Shultz of Animalbase is interested in working on the manual de-duping. There will still need to be manual clean-up. Martin asked if the team is reviewing the requirements for record merging that were listed awhile back – they had.
ACTION- Martin will send record merger requirements to the group.
New WP2 leader has been potentially identified and WP2 and WP3 have had work re-distributed.
Graham's Director wants to publicize BHL more in UK, at governmental and public level. Graham thought Moore foundation grant if it comes through, might be a hook for promotion. It would be great to have the glossy brochure ready at the same time. (end of January)
- Scanning issues: Tom posted some ideas on the wiki that since there is a slow-down in BHL Europe deduping tools. Graham's announcement about the new record merging tools removes the urgency here. No action necessary.
- Connie announced that the Metadata Librarian position has been posted. Martin noted that the Smithsonian is hoping to hire a 3rd technician for metadata.
ACTION: Connie will send job ad.
- Chris talked about Darwin's Books project. " BHL tech needs to build new tools to add annotations" was original deliverable but now there is much more general project management that has fallen to Chris. Chris has prepared a document to clarify his role in project. Graham noted that Jane Smith and Judith should talk to Chris to lay out the project needs. versus what can be done.
ACTION: Graham will get Jane and Judith on a conference call with Chris.
- Update on Brazil (Martin and Tom): Early February (conflict with Alexandria in Woods Hole meeting). Marcia B is coordinating theBrazil meeting and will be in DC next week. She will be visiting with Bill Comstock at Harvard.
ACTION: Martin and Tom will work on agenda for discussion in Brazil.
- Martin updated us on the field notes grant. The group will start with a planning grant. CAS/Becky Morin is taking the lead. Tom asked if BHL allocations could be considered matching funds? Martin said yes but it has to be new money (2010-2012). Matching must come from institution. MOBOTprovides money for Chris/Phil salary. Should MOBOT take the lead or be co-leaders since they have all this "matching" money? Tom would like to see this bumped up to a full 3 year project.
ACTION: Connie will talk with Doug today or tomorrow and see what he thinks--maybe be a co-leader. Chris will also talk to him. Will bring it to full group on Thursday conference call.
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