Curious about Scalar? Sign up for a free webinar!

Following up on their recent Beta release, the Scalar development team is offering free online webinars to help new users and the curious learn the platform more easily. The “Intro” webinars will cover the basics of Scalar: fundamental concepts, a review of existing Scalar books, and a hands-on introduction to the main Scalar features such as paths, importing media and annotations. A series of intermediate workshops (dates TBA) will delve into more advanced topics including how to effectively use visualizations, annotating with media and an intro to creating custom appearances in Scalar.

Dates and times for Intro webinars:

• Friday, June 14, 10am-12pm PST
• Thursday, July 11th, 10am-12pm PST
• Thursday, August 1st, 10am-12pm PST
• Thursday, August 15th, 10am-12pm PST

Spaces are limited, so sign up now!  To register for the online webinars, email micha cárdenas, mmcarden at usc dot edu.

Scalar is a free, open source authoring and publishing platform that’s designed to make it easy for authors to write long-form, born-digital scholarship online. Scalar enables users to assemble media from multiple sources and juxtapose them with their own writing in a variety of ways, with minimal technical expertise required.

ORCID awarded grant from Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to support university and professional society integration of persistent identifiers

ORCID announces a new project aimed at encouraging the adoption and integration of persistent researcher identifiers by research universities and scientific and social science professional associations. Funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, this project will provide external funding and personalized outreach and technical support to participating organizations. The goal of this program is to catalyze broader community adoption by standardizing and streamlining the ORCID identifier integration process, collecting and documenting use cases, developing open source code samples, and providing case studies of working integrations. The program will disseminate use cases and integration best practices through an Outreach meeting and CodeFest, to be held in Chicago in May 2014. Up to 10 grants of $15,000-$20,000 each are available. More information on the program and the RFP are available at https://orcid.org/content/rfp-2013-06-orcid-id-adoption-and-integration-program. Proposals are due by August 31, 2013.

See the full blog post at http://orcid.org/blog/2013/06/13/orcid-awarded-grant-alfred-p-sloan-foundation-support-university-and-professional.

The Social Networks and Archival Context (SNAC) project is pleased to announce the release of open source code that extracts names and related identifying information from MARC21 XML archival descriptions and assembles Encoded Archival Context-Corporate Bodies, Persons, and Families (EAC-CPF) identity records. We are also pleased to announce a Web Service to perform the same function taking as input MARC21 or MARC21 XML records and returning EAC-CPF records for download for local use.

The SNAC project has been generously funded by the U.S. National Endowment for the Humanities (2010-2012) and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (2012-2014).

The MARC to EAC-CPF code can be downloaded here: https://github.com/twl8n/snac_eac_cpf_utils

The MARC to EAC-CPF Web Service will be found here: http://socialarchive.iath.virginia.edu/dev/

The open source code and Web Service are based on code developed to process WorldCat 2.2M MARC encoded archival descriptions made available to the SNAC project by OCLC. From the WorldCat records, the SNAC project has created 4.5M EAC-CPF records. The code processes each record one-by-one in order to create the EAC-CPF records, and thus many of the resulting records describe the same entity (duplicates). The records extracted and assembled in this first stage of SNAC processing will now be matched against one another and records in the Virtual International Authority File (VIAF). Records deemed to be for the same entity will be combined in this process, with data in matching VIAF records used to enhance data extracted from the WorldCat data. Finally, the resulting set of records will be made available in the public SNAC prototype access and resource. The SNAC project is in the final stages of refining the merge/combine processing, and so records created from the WorldCat data will not be available for at least a few weeks. The project will announce the availability of the data in the SNAC prototype, and we will very much appreciate your exploring the prototype and providing feedback.

Currently under development is code to convert agency history records that were created using the MARC bibliographic format when no dedicated format for such existed. While only a few archives and libraries participated in this activity, the SNAC project will also make the code developed to convert these MARC records into EAC-CPF records as open source and to provide a Web Service. The Smithsonian Institution and the New York State Archives provided the MARC-encoded records used to develop this code.

Also under development is code that extracts names and related identifying information from EAD instances and assembles EAC-CPF records. This code, when completed, will also be made available as open source.

For more information on the SNAC project, please visit http://socialarchive.iath.virginia.edu/index.html

[English]

We just opened the registrations for our next THATCamp in the Caribbean. This year we will be going to Cuba. The prestigious Casa de las Americas has agreed to host us November 4-7. The first two days will be dedicated to workshops, and the last two to the unconference. We hope this event will draw an international crowd. We have an excellent local team making sure we will have appropriate lodging and an international team now working on funding for selected campers. For those of you worried about visas, let me reassure you, it is perfectly doable to obtain the right permits to go to Cuba if you act a couple of months in advance.

To register visit our registration page. Registration is FREE. In fact the whole thing is free except for your travel and lodging expenses.

[Español]

Acabamos de abrir las inscripciones para nuestro proximo THATCamp en el Caribe. ¡Este año nos vamos a Cuba! La prestigiosa Casa de las Americas ha ofrecido acogernos del 4 al 7 de Noviembre. Los dos primeros días serán dedicados a talleres, y los últimos dos a la desconferencia en si. Tenemos un equipo local organizando la estadía y otro internacional ocupándose de conseguir fondos para ayudar a participantes de bajo recursos. 

Para registrarse visiten nuestra página de inscripción. La inscripción es GRATIS. De hecho, la desconferencia y los talleres son todos gratis. El unico costo es el viaje y la estadía.

Si tienen alguna pregunta sobre las desconferencias visiten nuestro sitio o envíenme un email.

Espero verles en La Habana!

The post is excellent because it concisely explains the ongoing work required for digital library functionality as part of the overall work for sustainability, providing excellent images showing the changes in software and components over time with those changes necessary to support core and new core functionality. As anyone who’s been asked on software “Why can’t you build it and leave it alone” or “why does something need ongoing development for anything other than new features”, the post offers an excellent and clear example and explanation of the need. The post is worth reading in full (and likely quoting and referencing frequently) as shown even in this brief excerpt:

The effort needed for ongoing software upgrades and replacements will come as no surprise to software architects, developers, programmers, security experts and others who use or develop software.  But the need may be less obvious to anyone more removed from these activities.  The ongoing need for upgrades and replacements has sometimes prompted the question, “Why can’t you just build it and leave it alone?”

[...] Clearly some changes were necessary in order to add new features.  But avoiding adding new features still would not have eliminated the need to make replacements and upgrades.  Some software replacements and upgrades were necessary because of external threats to the stability of our software.  Some of these threats included hardware or operating system incompatibilities, loss of backward compatibility, loss of needed functions, new policy requirements, product abandonment, product support/licensing costs, security flaws and software bugs.  Not responding to these threats could have eventually resulted in inability to create or edit metadata and digital items as well as lack of access to our digital items and metadata–not to mention exploitation of security flaws to do harm to our systems or others.

This is a great post and well worth reading. It’s also well worth quoting, referencing, and citing to help improve awareness of what sustainability means and what resources are required for digital libraries.

Position Opening: Digital Repository Specialist

Purdue University Libraries seeks a highly motivated, intellectually curious, and reliable Digital Repository Specialist to support the creation of unique digital collections in Purdue University Libraries. Responsibilities of the Digital Repository Specialist will be split between the development of Human-Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) Central, (a grant-funded online resource focused on the health benefits of the human/animal bond—H/AB) and, to a lesser extent, the licensing and upload of content to the Purdue e-Pubs institutional repository.

HABRI Central represents a unique collaboration between a library, a publisher, and a disciplinary center. It is comprised of a bibliography of published and unpublished literature relevant to H/AB studies, a repository of full text and data resources, an online publishing venue, and digital community workspace built on the HUBzero software “platform for scientific collaboration” developed at Purdue University. The Digital Repository Specialist will be responsible for maintaining the repository component of the project, including licensing content from publishers and describing and uploading previously unpublished materials, both visual and textual.

Purdue e-Pubs is the University’s institutional repository and contains almost 30,000 documents of Purdue scholarship with over one million downloads annually. It is built on the Digital Commons platform. The Digital Repository Specialist will assist the manager of Purdue e-Pubs with the deposit of Purdue scholarship, checking rights, creating metadata, and uploading materials with some student and part-time staff support.

The Digital Repository Specialist will collaborate with other Purdue Libraries and Press staff to establish repository guidelines, including policies and procedures and metadata standards. He or she will provide regular reports on progress and status and maintain both internal and user documentation. This position will be funded for a period of three years from the date of hire with possibility of extension.

Qualifications

Required:

• MLS or MIS from an ALA accredited institution, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Working knowledge of issues related to intellectual property, copyright, and deposit agreements.
• Working knowledge of one or more major descriptive metadata standards (Dublin Core, EAD, METS, MIX, MODS, PREMIS, or others)
• Demonstrated ability to plan and initiate effective programs, projects, and services.
• Excellent interpersonal, collaborative, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively, in a rapidly changing environment

Preferred:

• At least two years’ experience managing digital content in a library or publishing environment.
• Experience in health sciences or veterinary medical librarianship
• An understanding of content management systems (e.g., Joomla!, Drupal)
• Familiarity with one or more of the following: XML, database design and development, scripting languages such as PHP, Web‐authoring tools, and Web page development.

Application process:

To be considered for the position, applications must be made through Purdue University’s employment web site at: www.purdue.edu/hr/employment and reference Job Number 1300804.  Please include a cover letter with your application outlining your qualifications for this position. Review of applications will begin June 3, 2013 and will continue until the position is filled. Questions can be directed to: libhr@purdue.edu. Resumes or CV’s sent to this email address cannot be considered. Please put “HABRI/e-Pubs” in the title of all email correspondence.

Purdue University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce. A background check is required for this position.

Arizona State University
Director, Digital Humanities Seed Lab

The Institute for Humanities Research (IHR) seeks an Administrative Professional to serve as Director of the Digital Humanities Seed Lab. The successful candidate will work closely with the IHR Director, Digital Humanities Advisory Board, and staff to conceptualize and implement an ASU wide initiative on digital humanities research. The successful candidate will draw upon previous training/ experience in digital humanities and new media to build external networks, seek out and/or create funding opportunities, develop a strategic vision for building and managing digital programs and projects, and further the mission of humanities research at ASU. Anticipated start date is August 2013. Salary $45,000-$60,000, depending on experience.

As director, the successful candidate will be expected to work directly with researchers to define, develop, and/or analyze project design, scope, and/or needs; evaluate existing and/or emerging tools and technologies to identify potential uses in humanities research at ASU; and collaborate with other ASU units/agencies to understand and apply various technology infrastructures to maximize resources and effectiveness. The successful candidate will also provide limited technical support for digital humanities research projects, including implementation of tools, technology, etc. to help researcher achieve goals; develop prototype demonstration projects for use by others; and provide training, group instruction or workshops as appropriate.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a humanities field
• Experience in working in interdisciplinary humanities environments
• Demonstrated familiarity with current work in the digital humanities
• Demonstrated record of effective project management
• Strong written/oral communication skills

Desired qualifications

• PhD in a humanities field
• Demonstrated experience developing and administering programs, events, and collaborative research projects
• Understanding of the principles and practices of research and development in digital humanities
• Experience with new media and technology applications for research and pedagogy in higher education
• Experience working with diverse campus and public constituencies.
• Ability to work in both PC and MAC environments
• Experience managing grants
• Working knowledge of content management systems (e.g. WordPress, Omeka, Drupal); data visualization tools and methods; relational databases, including design, ideally in the context of literary analysis; object oriented design and coding, ideally in the context of visualizations of Humanities documents or social networks; programming languages (e.g. PHP, Python, Ruby); text-mining tools and methods; text-encoding and markup; GIS tools and methods

To apply, submit a cover letter, CV/resume, and contact information for three references (name, email, phone number). Application materials should be submitted as a single PDF document via email only to Daniel Gilfillan, Search Chair, ihr-digitalhumanities@asu.edu. Review of applications will begin on June 28, 2013, if not filled, every two weeks thereafter until the search is closed.

ASU is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. See https://www.asu.edu/titleIX/. A background check is required for employment.