July 24, 2007 BHL Executive Committee Notes

BHL Executive Committee Conference Call Notes July 24, 2007
*MOU
We have a consortium of 10 like minded members of the BHL but as a group all 10 are not ready to fully participate mainly because of their collection status and the lack of funding to manage the project. We should discuss at the Board meeting in Sept how to address this issues in the governance of the BHL.

*Internet Archives
Email from Jesse re a discussion with Brewster. Brewster unclear about how much scanning we are doing but Robert has a detailed description. Tom sent it to Brewster to be sure we are all on the same page. Graham will need to be prepared the EOL meeting to address this issue. Martin and Chris continue to work on the pick list for similarities/standards among the major users of IA The main issues is that we are consortium of 10 libraries -- a little different from what their usual model. Chris is trying to align BHL and other customers regarding IA data work flows. There was concern that IA may do just what LC wants. Our needs may be different. Again how to reach consensus from all 10 libraries since some will not have signed MOU by the deadline. It appears that we need to focus on Harvard, SI, NHM, MBLWHOI, MOBOT-to start. Should be able to agree on pick list in next two weeks. There will be cleanup because IA is not currently recording item level info entirely. We might talk to IA about the cost of developing what is needed ( one week of programmers time, etc that BHL might support)

*Subawards
Draft awards to MBL and MOBOT. Once finalized and get the statement
of work, then can move quickly on the rest.

*MISC/Wiley/priorities/EOL meeting
Chris--discussions about FEDORA with Moore Foundation. Has all paperwork for proposal submission. Chris excited about FEDORA--how do we approach this decision. Agreed that if Chris/IT recommend, then we should go with the recommendation. Cathy notes that we must keep Jim Edwards informed that the Moore Foundation has invited us to do this. Tom has already reported. If MOBOT/BHL receives funds to
move to FEDORA, it will change how we hire staff and proceed on BHL.
Will be hiring instead of looking for contracts. Consult with appropriate tech people within BHL --Martin, John Furfee, John Mignault. Tom should review the proposal just to be sure BHL presence is consistent.

Will need to define workplan for portal (Chris). Need to factor in priorities--our own content first before ingesting and presenting other content. Need a paper plan. Chris will update and revisit the plan he put together a month or so ago. Wiley just wants a common agreement--no work until Spring. Lots of requests for functionality--
we need an agreed on document as a response. EOL may have a
template for a document of this type.

Status of IA work needs to be reported; SI scanning station not staffed yet.
Posting positions for EOL--programmers for MOBOT will be contractors but will put on EOL site if they hire someone. No agenda for EOL meeting yet. Nothing from TED yet. Razorfish info. coming. Nothing on better OCR. Some offers but not taken (Harris wanted to create websites).

Next conference call Thursday Aug 2 at 11 am.