IDIG: Idaho Digital Memories

Mission Statement:

IDIG—Idaho Digital Memories provides digital access to the unique resources and special collections of Idaho’s archives, libraries, museums and other cultural institutions promoting Idaho’s identity to the state and beyond.

Goal 1:  Provide reliable access through a single portal for all users.

Objective 1:  Increase access to the collections of the IDIG participants through the (system name).

Activity:  Make 500 digital objects and associated metadata available by December, 2008.

            Objective 2:  Guide Idahoans to the IDIG portal.

Activity:  Create MARC records for local library/museum catalogs with links to the records in the IDIG portal

Activity:  Make the IDIG portal harvestable by search engines such as Google.

Goal 2:  Support implementation of a collaborative culture to help Idaho institutions develop and maintain a statewide identity.

Objective 1:  Develop an infrastructure that supports collaboration among archives, libraries, museums and other cultural institutions to achieve the iDIG project.

                        Activity:  Finalize governing documents by September, 2008

                        Activity:  Adopt Metadata Best Practices by May, 2008

                        Activity:  Adopt Content Creation Best Practices by May, 2008

                        Activity:  Develop IDIG Web policy by May, 2008

                        Activity:  Develop Copyright policy by September, 2008

                        Activity:  Develop Collection Development Policy by September, 2008

                        Activity:  Develop Preservation Strategy by March, 2009

            Objective 2:  Promote the value of Idaho’s cultural content to Idahoan’s.

Activity:  Develop and execute a promotional program targeted at the primary user groups by September, 2008

Goal 3:  Enhance the capabilities of cultural institution staff to develop digital assets by providing training for collaborative participants.

Objective 1:  Increase understanding of how to deliver digital content over diverse communication infrastructures.

Activity:  Create and conduct workshops on delivering different digital content via Idaho’s broadband network in four different locations in the state by June 2009.

Objective 2:  Develop the knowledge and expertise of Idaho’s digital practitioners to support IDIG.

Activity:  Recruit and train practitioners as trainers, supporting local continuing education programs in metadata, content creation, quality control, etc. for the iDIG initiative. June 2009-ongoing

                        Activity:  Conduct basic metadata workshops through 2010

                        Activity:  Conduct basic content creation workshops through 2010

                        Activity:  Conduct basic quality control workshops through 2010

Activity:  Identify additional areas of training and options for providing the training—ongoing.

Activity:  Evaluate the quality of the training by evaluating the quality of the metadata and the content created by the participants, beginning December, 2008.

Goal 4:  Expand utilization of digital content by providing value added information to the resources.

Objective 1:  Develop tools for Idaho’s k-12 education community that will increase their use IDIG.

Activity:  In collaboration with one or more K-12 school, pilot the development of lesson plans incorporating digital content from library and museum partners by December, 2008. 

Activity:  Increase availability of lessons for digital collections, promoting partnering with K-12 schools in selection of content, development of lessons, promotion of availability of content.

Activity:  Develop program training K-12 teachers in use of digital content, use the CDP online materials to support this program, 2009-2010.       

Activity: Evaluate satisfaction of K-12 teachers with digital collection by 2010

Activity:  Assess teacher and student utilization of digital content in lesson and student projects by 2010

Objective 2:  Expand use by the general Idaho population by developing online exhibits that convey the history of Idaho.

Activity:  Develop 3 web exhibits that incorporate content from across the collections, representing important periods/themes in Idaho’s history—January, 2009

Activity:  Evaluate utilization of the websites, including views; evaluate usefulness of the exhibits

Goal 5:  Assure sustainability of the IDIG—Idaho Digital Memories

            Objective 1:  Develop plans for the financial sustainability of IDIG

Activity:  Investigate opportunities for a 2^nd year of LSTA funding, April, 2008, submit a second proposal if eligible, July 2008.

                        Activity:  Investigate membership model, June, 2008.

                        Activity:  Develop business plan January, 2009

            Objective 2:  Explore opportunities for long term sustainability of digital content

Activity:  Meet with OCLC representative to discuss OCLC’s plans for long term preservation of digital content, June, 2008

Activity:  Attend appropriate workshops on digital preservation.

Activity:  Conduct workshops on digital preservation, Fall, 2008-Winter, 2009.