June 8, 2010 BHL Executive Committee notes

BHL Executive Conference Call June 8, 2010

On call: Graham, Connie, Tom, Cathy, Chris

1. Chris's new view: global sharing with local control

Australia is embedded into ALA which has own unique funding and pressures and specific literature needs; BHL Europe has needs so that it plays well with
Europeana; BHL classic must play well with EOL.

Scanned books are the underpinnings but the user interfaces on top of the content will be different based on local funding requirements and needs

We should be able to ingest the scanned objects.

The notion of BHL China and content coming in was not seen as important by EU reviewers and not important to Europeana content; We are funded for a
US Node. Divergence rather than convergence for software development. Sharing data but different interfaces built on top of it; also shared experiences.
Unlikely to have one portal interface that everyone contributes components to.

A global skin is still a good idea. As they drill down, there can be different nodal presentations. But Tom noted that we shouldn't depend on it.

Need to recharge US development group. We have deferred UI changes because a new and better one would come from BHL E. But not happening--it is
built around different use cases.

Graham noted that the vision hasn't really changed--several different interfaces but what is the appetite for a global interface or to all go our own way is
still unclear. What can be shared? Chris isn't talking about the tools or the content (these are shared) but how it is displayed.

2. Global Tech meeting in Sept--we have the right players but commercial 3rd parties should not be at the table. Adrian will AIT/ATOS know. Henning,
Graham, 2 from China, Alexandria, Brazil, Australia. TDWG is the same time as the ALA rollout. Elly will come from ALA; Donald Hobern probably won't
make it to TDWG.

3. In Australia, the libraries are very enthusiastic--met with National Library and State libraries. Martin gave a great talk and everyone was very interested.
They will load content into IA. The Sept. launch of ALA will feature BHL index and provide minor re-skinning as BHL Australia.

Usability session in Australia: frustrating and telling experience. A user-centered designer came in and made suggestions but some were in direct conflict
with some of our progress based on user-feedback. Thus we need to push on our own design.

4. Chris would like to re-institute some more US centered tech discussions including more BHL-US staff.

ACTION: Chris will write up the easy points to move forward from the usability discussion and review with Execs, IC and staff. Consider bringing John
Mignault, Joe Deveer to tech meeting in September to re-invigorate US based tech discussions.

ACTION: Cathy needs to send a letter to tech invitees and ACTION: Tom needs to be sure all the emails are available and give Cathy the list of invitees.

5. Communications Plan: financial issues to consider. Will review on Thursday but Graham won't be available for call, neither will Cathy. On second
thought, will put off until next call.
Susan Fraser and subgroup prepared a plan, will go on agenda for Thursday IC call. Martin's (and Connie's) reservations: too traditional for virtual project
and expensive. Add comments and make agenda for next IC meeting. Should be simple, effective and viral.

TROVE had a media/user packet: notebook, pin, bookmark that is awesome. ACTION: Chris will photograph it so we can see it.

Next Call: June 15 at 11 AM EDT