Using CONTENTdm: An Amigos Online Conference

Session Time: 9:00 - 9:45 a.m. CDT

Session Title: Tab-Delimited Spreadsheets Made Easy

Session Type: How to - 45 Minutes

Intended Audience: Academic and Public Libraries

Session Description: By far the easiest way to enter metadata into CONTENTdm is to point the program at the image folder and upload, entering the metadata in the Project Client after the image is uploaded. But what if the images aren't ready? Or you don't have the Project Client software on every machine? There is another option—tab-delimited spreadsheets. Learn how to create tab-delimited spreadsheets for both simple and compound objects, how to create structured metadata for monographs and the common pitfalls with using them.

Speaker Bio: Kathleen McElhinney is the Metadata and Cataloging Librarian and Head of Technical Services at the University of South Dakota. As Metadata Librarian, she deals with unique collections, focusing on the metadata required to make these collections both findable to and usable by the very different audiences of scholars and the general public.

As Head of Technical Services, she leads a staff of 4 in creating the traditional metadata used to describe and provide access to books and other resources, as well as other backend responsibilities typical of Technical Services. In addition, she creates the subject access for the university's theses and dissertations, extending existing vocabularies as needed to cover this original research.

Her prior experience in controlled vocabularies came as an information specialist at Capital Group Companies, providing subject and company name access to their internal financial research, and at Logicon (later Northrop Grumman), where she focused on making project documents findable.

She received her MLS from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1992, specializing in medical cataloging, though she has never worked as a medical cataloger. She also has an M.A. in Philosophy and a B.S. in Computer Science. She has been an SLA member for over 20 years, and a founding member of the Taxonomy Division, which she currently chairs.

Session Time: 9:00 - 9:45 a.m. CDT

Session Title: Going Hosted: The Good, the Bad, and the Minions

Intended Audience: Academic and Public Libraries

Session Type: How to - 45 Minutes

Session Description: Changing dynamics in library budgets and staffing considerations, along with technological developments with cloud-based services have opened up new possibilities for libraries with locally-hosted CONTENTdm instances to shift over to a hosted model. This presentation will examine the pros and cons of shifting to a hosted model.

Speaker Bio: Jim Cunningham is Digital Projects Librarian at Milner Library, Illinois State University, Normal, IL. He has been at ISU since 1995, a librarian since 1990 and has done just about every different kind of task there is in the library profession over the years. He also works part time as a commercial pilot and flight instructor.

Session Time: 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. CDT

Session Title: Batch Uploading With the Help of MS Access

Session Type: How to - 45 Minutes

Intended Audience: Academic and Public Libraries

Session Description: Microsoft Access is a great tool for minimizing headaches, streamlining data entry and ensuring quality control in preparing batch uploads for CONTENTdm collections. At UMass Boston, we store our descriptive metadata in MS Access tables by way of easy data entry forms. Then it uses Access queries to automatically create all of the other necessary fields, to check for errors and, finally to generate a delimited text file that imports easily into the Project Client (almost always ;). This process has saved staff a great deal of time and effort and keeps their metadata safely backed up and available locally in the Access database. For this "how to" demo session Joanne will use the University Archives Historic Photographs collection, which includes more than 4,000 photo and video records.

http://openarchives.umb.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/p15774coll24

Basic understanding of MS Access tables, forms and queries is enough for this session - knowledge of Visual Basic or macros is not necessary.

Speaker Bio: Joanne Riley (MA, MSEd, MLIS) serves as University Archivist and Curator of Special Collections at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She has worked for more than fifteen years in the field of information science as applied to humanities research initiatives, in the United States and internationally. Ms. Riley holds master's degrees in library and information studies from the University of Alabama, in educational technology from Johns Hopkins University, and in ethnomusicology from Wesleyan University. She co-founded the Massachusetts Memories Road Show, a state-wide public scanning and indexing project, developed the first state-wide online networking platform for humanities practitioners, and served as information architect for the Medici Archive Project in Florence, Italy. Ms. Riley manages the Archives and Special Collections Department in the Healey Library, and leads UMass Boston's efforts to document and preserve its history, to make primary source material available to students, faculty and researchers in both physical and digital formats, and to deepen connections between and among the Archives, the University's academic programs, neighboring archival institutions and local, regional and international partners.

Session Time: 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. CDT

Session Title: What Flavor of Linked Data is Best for Your Collection?

Session Type: Advanced - 45 Minutes

Intended Audience: Academic and Public Libraries

Session Description: Since about 2012, cultural heritage institutions, libraries, archives, and museums have been hearing a lot of talk about the need to be converting metadata to linked data, and getting it out on the web. But how? RDF (Resource Description Framework) and XML are one way to go, but many professionals find screens and screens of pointy brackets and RDF triples impenetrable. There seem to be increasing numbers of methods for batch converting existing metadata, especially MARC, to linked data. A lighter weight type of linked data can be encoded in HTML, and put directly on webpages that describe collection items. OCLC is doing this using schema.org, a microdata format developed for e-commerce, to enhance the web displays of WorldCat records. And what initiative to choose? LibHub, BIBFRAME, Schema Bib Extend, LD4L, LODLAM? Starting with a basic introduction to linked data structures and terminology, this primarily non-technical overview will help you untangle the acronyms and the players, and pick your favorite flavor of linked data.

Speaker Bio: Debra Shapiro is an instructor at the School of Library & Information Studies (SLIS), the iSchool at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the coordinator of the online masters' degree program. Debra has been at SLIS since 2000, teaching a variety of topics including cataloging, metadata, organization of information, and website usability and design. Deb earned her MA in library & information studies at SLIS in 1991, with an archives concentration. Most of her of experience is with describing the "weird" stuff - archival photographs at the Chicago History Museum, corporate archives at Pleasant Company, websites at the Internet Scout Project. Debra is also active with professional associations, especially the American Library Association division LITA (Library & Information Technology Association), where she was co-chair of the linked data IG, planned a series of linked data webinars offered in 2013 - 2014, and is currently the chair of the program planning committee.

Session Time: 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. CDT

Session Title: From Local to Hosted: Our CONTENTdm Journey

Session Type: Advanced - 45 Minutes

Intended Audience: Academic and Public Libraries

Session Description: Washington State University used CONTENTdm for many years. When Cindy assumed the role of CONTENTdm administrator and it began consuming a large portion of her day, it became abundantly clear that a change needed to be made. This session will detail their journey from a local server to a hosted server environment.

Speaker Bio: Cindy has worked at Washington State University for nearly 30 years, including 13 years at the University Libraries.

Session Time: 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. CDT

Session Title: Postcards and Portraits: Accurate Representation

Session Type: Advanced - 45 Minutes

Intended Audience: Academic and Public Libraries

Session Description: The Houston Area Digital Archives website is home to over 10,000 digitized archival objects. Among these are significant collections of postcards and glass plate negatives. These compound objects require special consideration in the CONTENTdm Project Client and during metadata creation to achieve an accurate digital representation for users. This presentation will explore and demonstrate the unique processes used by the Houston Area Digital Archives in making these collections accessible online.

Speaker Bio: Jeanette Sewell is a Cataloging & Metadata Librarian with the Houston Public Library. Her book chapter, "Getting Digi With It: Using TimelineJS to Transform Digital Archival Collections", was recently published in More Library Mashups. She has previously presented for the Amigos Library Services Annual Member Conference and the Texas Library Association among others.

Session Time: 12:00 - 12:45 p.m. CDT

Session Title: Creating Documentation for Training Staff

Session Type: Lightning Round - 10 minutes

Intended Audience: Public Libraries

Session Description: Susan has been working with CONTENTdm since 2007 and has been in charge of training others how to maneuver the system. Recently she decided to create a detailed step-by-step procedure document with screen shots and simple language. She will discuss her documentation process and the lessons learned.

Speaker Bio: Susan is the archivist of the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library (HMCPL), the oldest continuing Library in the state of Alabama. The Library was formed in 1818, when Alabama was still a part of the Mississippi Territory. Now it has grown into a thriving Library system that supports 12 branch libraries and maintains high circulation statistics. HMCPL proudly continues as a public center and technology hub for the surrounding communities.

Susan has a special interest in digital preservation and oversees HMCPL's participation in AlabamaMosaic, ADPNet, and the ASERL Civil War Portal. She contributed to "Eden of the South Huntsville's Bicentennial", has written articles for The Huntsville Historic Review, and edited "'Wooing You by Mail...': Letters to Mabel, A Joe Bradley Schoolmarm".

Session Time: 12:00 - 12:45 p.m. CDT

Session Title: From Postcards to Practicums

Session Type: Lightning Round - 10 Minutes

Intended Audience: Academic Libraries

Session Description: Anne and Kathy presented a poster presentation to the CONTENTdm Southern Users Group Conference about what they have done, what they hope to do, the pitfalls, and the discoveries they have made on their CONTENTdm journey. As they have just started this journey, they describe some of their successes and failures after receiving a grant from the university to purchase the space needed to house their archive.

Speaker Bio: Anne is the public services librarian and Kathy is the electronic services librarian.

Session Time: 12:00 - 12:45 p.m. CDT

Session Title: How to Make Slick Timelines Using CONTENTdm and TimelineJS

Session Type: Lightning Round - 10 Minutes

Intended Audience: Academic and Public Libraries

Session Description: TimelineJS is an open source application for creating nice web-based timelines. The Ohio Memory staff at the Ohio History Connection have created a modified version of TimelineJS that works with CONTENTdm. This session will provide a brief overview of the application, where it can be obtained, and the basics of setting it up for your own institution.

Speaker Bio: Phil Sager is Digital Projects Developer in the Multimedia Department of the Ohio History Connection. He has worked extensively on the Ohio Memory Project and other cultural heritage applications.

Session Time: 12:00 - 12:45 p.m. CDT

Session Title: Who Is Using Online Special Collections? The CUL Digital Collections Case Study

Session Type: Lightning Round - 10 Minutes

Intended Audience: Academic and Public Libraries

Session Description: Since 2008, Southern Methodist University’s (SMU) Central University Libraries (CUL) have digitized, cataloged and made available on the CUL Digital Collections web site some 42,000 image, text, video, and audio files from the holdings of its rich special collections. CUL primarily uses Google Analytics to count hits and track who is using its 44 digital collections. To better understand outcomes, library staff developed a survey that is sent to users who license images they find online. The results, which are often surprising, help staff uncover how CUL Digital Collections are changing research or being used for personal enrichment. Staff members then document the information as case studies in a self-published booklet, CUL Digital Collections: Making a Difference. This presentation will provide examples of innovative ways people and communities around the world are utilizing CUL's digitized special collections, data that has opened the libraries' eyes to unanticipated topics of interest to its viewers and helps staff build new audiences for digital archives.

Speaker Bio: Cindy Boeke is the Digital Collections Developer at Southern Methodist University’s (SMU) Central University Libraries (CUL), where she works with CUL curators, staff and project partners to select and develop CUL Digital Collections. The CUL Digital Collections web site contains more than 42,000 items relating to Texas history, art, and culture, as well as Mexico, the U.S. West and Southwest, Latin America, Europe, the Civil War, World War II, railroads, SMU history, and more. Her responsibilities including project management for all digital collections, writing grants, creating and updating CUL’s metadata guidelines, providing quality control of metadata, designing and updating CUL Digital Collections web pages, administering CUL’s instance of CONTENTdm, managing CUL’s information architecture, providing digital archiving using CUL’s Digital Asset Management software, writing project documentation, monitoring web statistics, documenting outcomes from CUL Digital Collections usage, and marketing CUL Digital Collections.

Session Time: 1:00 - 1:45 p.m. CDT

Session Title: CONTENTdm, Videos, and Popcorn.js: Oh My!

Session Type: Advanced - 45 Minutes

Intended Audience: Academic and Public Libraries

Session Description: Texas A&M University-Commerce Libraries began creating online digital collections in 2006 using CONTENTdm. The first collection established was the American War Experience-World War II. This collection is unique, and the stories are often engaging; however, Adam and Sean felt it was important to seek out new ways to continue to engage viewers with their online content, particularly since content that doesn't stand out often gets tuned out. They wanted the videos to “pop.” In Spring 2012, they discovered the popcorn.js framework, and quickly realized its potential to greatly enhance their CONTENTdm collections and give end-users a richer viewing experience.

Popcorn.js is an HTML5 framework that allows for the creation of time-based interactive media. This presentation will describe their experiences integrating CONTENTdm collections with Popcorn.js, focusing on topics such as selection criteria, effective workflow, popcorn.js programming, finding appropriate supplemental material, and styling the enhanced video with CSS3. They will also discuss their expectations when they started the project versus where they are now, and their future goals for the continuation of the project.

Speaker Bio: Adam Northam is the digital collections librarian at Texas A&M University-Commerce Libraries, a position he has held since 2008. He made presentations on topics related to digital collections and library technology at several regional and state conferences. He lives in Texas with his wife, Sarah, who is also a librarian, and their dog Duke.

Speaker Bio: Sean Anderson is the technology librarian/library webmaster at Texas A&M University–Commerce Libraries and focuses on incorporating technology in many forms—hardware, software, online resources, gizmos—into the library’s services. Apart from the library he enjoys spending time with his wife, Melissa, as they tend their flower gardens.

Session Time: 1:00 - 1:45 p.m. CDT

Session Title: Digital Collections: CONTENTdm and Beyond

Session Type: How to - 45 Minutes

Intended Audience: Academic and Public Libraries

Session Description: This session will offer lessons learned while using CONTENTdm to create a digital collection of over 4,000 historical maps. Laura of the Wisconsin Historical Society will discuss planning, executing, and managing a digital project staffed largely by students; the technology required to digitize large format maps; and the challenges and opportunities presented in promoting the collection to a specific audience within the larger institution on Facebook.

Speaker Bio: Laura Farley earned her BA in history with a minor in english and a certificate in museum studies from the University of Iowa and her MLIS from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She works at the Wisconsin Historical Society as the project manager of the map and atlas digitization project, and at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum as a reference archivist. Previously Laura has interned at the Herbert Hoover Presentation Library and Museum and the Chicago History Museum. Her areas of research include projects revolving around archival advocacy and outreach innovation.

Session Time: 2:00 - 2:45 p.m. CDT

Session Title: Working with Photographic Software Tools to Organize and Prepare Your Photos for CONTENTdm

Session Type: How to - 45 Minutes

Intended Audience: Academic and Public Libraries

Session Description: So your documents are scanned and stored away in tidy folders awaiting metadata. Now what? Using spreadsheets to work with large batches of digital photographs can be tedious and time consuming. Keeping track of files in folders, matching images to individual records, and entering the same metadata over and over, one image at a time. Software tools designed for photographers can help speed the process while reducing mistakes, organizing the images, and identifying potential problems. Some software can non-destructively edit photos, create derivatives, and even track images uploaded to social media.

In this introduction to photographic cataloging tools you will learn the difference between browsers and catalogs, how they function, how they can make your workflow more efficient, and how Miles uses them with CONTENTdm. Miles will also briefly cover some of the software options and their pros and cons, and demonstrate a few of the more common programs.

Speaker Bio: Miles is a photographer turned archivist who specializes in photography and digitization. After earning his BFA in photography and moving to Los Angeles in 1998, he worked as a photo archivist at 20th Century Fox and then in a commercial photography studio where he first started working with digital photography. He then went on to earn his MLIS and is currently the digital archivist in the Western University institutional archives.

Session Time: 2:00 - 2:45 p.m. CDT

Session Title: Maintaining Legacy Metadata in CONTENTdm: The Metadata Upgrade Project at the University of Houston

Session Type: Advanced - 45 Minutes

Intended Audience: Academic and Public Libraries

Session Description: To ensure robust, reliable, retrievable and sharable metadata, the University of Houston (UH) Libraries initiated a Metadata Upgrade Project in 2013 to systematically audit and refine the quality of the metadata in the University of Houston Digital Library (UHDL). The Metadata Upgrade Project has produced significant improvements in the UHDL’s legacy metadata. The final stages of the Metadata Upgrade Project required time- and labor-intensive analysis and remediation of controlled vocabulary terms for every object in the UHDL. To improve efficiency and accuracy during the data entry process, the UH Libraries developed name and subject authority applications that automatically transform legacy controlled vocabulary terms into authorized forms. This presentation will provide an overview of the University of Houston’s Metadata Upgrade Project, key recommendations and strategies for upgrading existing UHDL metadata, a discussion of how the UHDL's upgraded metadata improves discoverability of collections, and a brief look at the tools that automate the authority alignment process in the CONTENTdm Project Client.

Speaker Bio: Andrew Weidner is the Metadata Services Coordinator at the University of Houston Libraries. Prior to UH, he oversaw the digitization of historic New Mexico newspapers for the National Digital Newspaper Program at the University of North Texas, where he also earned his MLIS.

Session Time: 3:00 - 3:45 p.m. CDT

Session Title: Keynote: CONTENTdm Update

Session Type: How to - 45 Minutes

Intended Audience: Academic and Public Libraries

Session Description: We are happy to announce that Shane Huddleston, CONTENTdm Product Manager, is our keynote speaker. He promises an update on the software, details on the upcoming release, and a review of the roadmap.