Coordinating Committees

DICC Teleconference

December 16, 2008
11:00AM

Present: Beck, Edmonds, Gorman, Hagness, Jewell, Ranger, Tobias, Wilkinson

Guest:  David Luke 

I. CUWL/Budget update

Ranger summarized CUWL’s response to the two reports submitted to CUWL in November (MINDS report and Future Directions) which was largely positive and complimentary. One change has to be made to the MINDS document. The program was cut $40K, not $100K.  Ranger explained that CUWL requires more specific information regarding the costs of the digital programs, something like a fully detailed budget or at least budgetary priorities with cost figures.    

Gorman was unsure what level of granularity was required, adding that the UWDCC budget is complicated as UW Madison and System share in the costs. There was agreement that the budget should be broad enough for the understanding of CUWL members, that it should concentrate on what activities/services cost. 

Jewell stated that CUWL’s budget DIN for expanded electronic resources will probably not go through. OLIT will need to balance the value on its various investments and that Rebecca  Martin’s focus will be on shared electronic collection. Jewell suggested we revisit the “alternate funding model” idea as restoration of lost funding will likely not occur. 

Wilkinson agreed, but cautioned that we not scale back on communicating what these projects/services need to be operational. Priority setters must understand what is being lost when funding is cut. Jewell agreed and that if our full needs are articulated they could be used in the future when more funding is available. 

Ranger conceded that the UWDCC ultimately must develop this document as DICC members do not have the knowledge. Jewell suggested the DICC have this information in time for the February 2nd CUWL meeting. Ranger asked if there might be a draft ready by a proposed January 18th DICC teleconference. Gorman said that he would look at schedules to determine if this that was possible.  Ranger will hold off on scheduling the meeting until he hears from Gorman. 

As way of final remarks David Luke stated that Ed Van Gemert and Ken Frazier want the UWDCC to concentrate and communicate on core services. This too is under draft.   

Wilkinson added that in the budget, we need to be clear where the money goes to, what tasks are done, clear in how we say it. 

Ranger added the following points on his impression on the CUWL meeting:

We need to improve our strategic communications regarding these programs, particularly MINDS. We get some traction when we talk in terms of the inevitability of the need for the preservation of digital scholarship. That if we don’t support MINDS now, we will have to re-create it at some future point in time for more money than it is costing us now. The problem with this argument is we don’t have any huge loss of data on campus that we can point to saying this wouldn’t have happened had the stuff been in MINDS. 

Gorman thought that suggesting that preservation is only the realm of the repository services is unfair. That we need to show the preservation is an across the board function of the digital program. 

Ranger went on to add that there is great support for Tobias’ assessment projects. This program of assessment fits right in with CUWL’s strategic directions and it will greatly inform our communications, as the collection and service development processes we go through. 

Finally, Ranger reiterated a point Gorman made that Ken Frazier suggested that distinguishing our repository from others, making it somehow unique among peers, will help it survive and hopefully thrive. This will be a major challenge in 2009.

II. WHS EAD proposal

In October, the Wisconsin Historical Society submitted a proposal to continue their EAD finding aid project. The request was for a minimum of $15,503.13 for the calendar year 2009 to complete 2500 pages of finding aids. Maximum request was for $30K. Due to budget uncertainties, the DICC agreed to fund the project  half of the minimum request or $7751.57 through June 30 and either commit to another $7751.57 July 1st or sooner depending on FY08-09’s budget. 

III. Assessment Update

Tobias reported enthusiastic response to her market penetration web survey (20%) and also stated they had conducted their Crazy Egg assessment of popular areas of their pages. She is in the process of beginning to set up interviews and focus groups on the Madison, La Crosse and Oshkosh campuses. Tobias asked if a preliminary data report was necessary to provide to CUWL. Ranger believed it would be better for the analysis to be completed first.  

The meeting adjourned at 11:45.