dArceo source code is open!

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dArceo is a long term preservation system for source data (e.g. master files), initially developed by PSNC as a part of the SYNAT project . This system has been successfully included in the PSNC package DInGO – the set of tools to digitize and share collections on-line and it is currently used by dozens of Polish cultural and scientific institutions.

We are pleased to inform that the source code has been released under GNU GPL v3.0. It is a result of cooperation with Open Preservation Foundation, whose PSNC is a member. Releasing dArceo sources under the free software license makes the system more transparent and accessible for all interested – these are key conditions in the area of professional archiving and ensuring long-term access to digital content. We encourage to use the system and cooperation at its development!

dArceo source code repository:

http://github.com/psnc-dl/darceo

Excellent outputs of the Succeed project

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Succeed project final technical review took place at the end of February in Alicante. Experts invited by the European Commission evaluated all project outcomes. The final assessment of the project was “excellent”, which means that “the project has fully achieved its objectives and technical goals for the period and has even exceeded expectations”.

Succeed supported take up and validation of research results applicable to digitization activities. The main achievements of the project include:

  • Improved IMPACT Interoperability Framework with 40 tools integrated, currently deployed at the IMPACT Center of Competence.
  • A searchable survey of more than 260 tools and resources useful in text digitization: http://succeed-project.eu/publications/available-tools/index-succeed
  • Over 20 evaluations of the tools useful in digitization. The evaluations were done in a real-life scenarios by 13 libraries from Europe, including: Wielkopolska Biblioteka Cyfrowa (Poland), Biblioteca Histórica General de Salamanca (Spain), Wroclaw University Library (Poland), University Library of Bratislava (Slovak Republic), National Library of Finland (Finland), Biblioteca de la Universidad de Granada (Spain), University Library of Leuven (Belgium), University Library of Antwerp (Belgium), University Library of Darmstadt (Germany), Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes (Spain), British Library (United Kingdom), Bibliothèque nationale de France (France), Koninklijke Bibliotheek (Netherlands)
  • Two sets of recommendations for digitization projects, the first one related to standards and formats in digitization, the second one related to licensing schemes in digitization. Online summary can be found at http://www.digitisation.eu/training/recommendations-for-digitisation-projects/.
  • Two contests and two editions of Succeed awards (in the second edition of Succeed awards University Library of Wroclaw received Commendation of Merit).
  • Multiple events organized to disseminate and discuss the latest technology for digitization (three workshops, Digitisation Days, DATeCH conference as well as the ceremony of the Succeed awards).

Poznan Supercomputing and Networking Center participated in all work packages in the project, with the leading role in work package 4, that was related to normalization and standardization and produced two sets of Succeed recommendations.

Announcing 10th “Digital Libraries” Workshop

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In March 2015 we are planning to organize in Poznań 10th “Digital Libraries” Workshop. The scope of the workshop will include:

  • Presentation of dLibra 6.0
  • Presentation of new version of Digital Libraries Federation Portal
  • Presentation of “dLibra Repository” – system dedicated for institutional repositories
  • Discussion about formats of digital objects in the context of data quality and accessibility for end users
  • Discussion about solutions for small memory institutions – cloud platforms on the example of LoCloud.pl, role of regional digital libraries.

The workshop will be held in Polish. More details about dates and agenda will be available later on this site. If you are interested in shaping the workshop agenda, please contact us.

Open Planets Foundation is becoming the Open Preservation Foundation

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Last Tuesday Open Planets Foundation officially communicated change of its name to Open Preservation Foundation (please see a blog post on OPF website). Open Planets Foundation emerged from the the EU co-funded Planets project, therefore it had “Planets” part in the name. Currently OPF is working on a new strategy for 2015-2018 and it seems to be the right time to change the name as well. Fortunately, despite the fact that the name is changed, the acronym stays as it was – OPF. In the coming weeks OPF will release its new website, which hopefully will address the needs of Open Preservation Foundation members and community even better. 

Succeed survey on tools for text digitisation

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The Succeed project has recently launched an online survey on available tools for text digitisation. This survey currently contains over 200 tools and can be accessed at http://succeed-project.eu/publications/available-tools/. We kindly invite you to add your tools and participate in this community.

In addition, the DigitWiki was created and the further information on these tools, such as training materials, can be found there. Access is open and anyone is invited to contribute to these new resources. Further information on the Survey and the DigitWiki can be found at http://www.digitisation.eu/blog/digitwiki-new-place-share-information-digitisation/.

After the Succeed project is completed, both resources will be administrated by the Impact Centre of Competence, so a long-term sustainability is ensured.

 

Summary of 4th edition of FBC e-learning courses

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The 4th ongoing edition of Polish Digital Libraries Federation e-learning courses ended in June. We received lots of important opinions about content and quality of courses through questionnaires filled by users at the end of each subject. “Digital repositories for small memory institutions” had 82 participants; 30 people registered for the shorter one, “Cooperation with Europeana”. Similarly to previous editions, participants who passed all tests and filled the questionnaires, had a possibility to gain a certificate confirming completion of the course and the note they have reached.

“Cooperation with Europeana” was averagely rated for 4,6 (in 5 grades scale), which is almost the same as in previous editions. Most of participants acknowledged that presented subjects will be useful for their profession and that they are satisfied with the course. We asked participants where did they get to know about the course and it came out that most of them heard about it from their boss or tutor. We got to know also that librarian is the most often profession among participants.

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The second one, longer course “Digital repositories for small memory institutions” got also an average rate of 4,6. As far as the source of knowledge about course is concerned, most people got it from various websites, some participants also knew it from their boss/tutor or facebook. As in the Europeana course, librarian is the most often profession.

We received quite a few remarks about content and quality of courses, sometimes they were inconsistent. Lots of participants insist on more practical examples and more accurate review of some issues, but on the other hand, some opinions were about that there is too much knowledge and unnecessary subjects in courses for the work of given participants. It is very difficult to strike a happy medium and make the course suitable for everyone. However, we will consider all valuable comments and we will try to implement new, flexible solutions in the next training course.

Registration for new users was closed and we do not give certificates till the beginning of the next scholarship cycle.

Succeed in Digitisation Conference

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On behalf of SUCCEED and IMPAC Center of Competence, Bibliothèque nationale de France ( BnF) is organizing on November 28, 2014 the conference “Succeed in Digitisation, spreading excellence”. SUCCEED is an EU funded project that promotes the take-up and validation of tools and resources for mass digitisation.

The conference schedule will focus on the following blocks based on the main outcomes of Succeed:

  •        Libraries’ experiences in the take-up of tools.
  •        Results on competitions (Succeed award).
  •        Roadmap for the future of digitisation in Europe.
  •        Interoperability of tools for text digitisation.
  •        Recommendations on formats, standards and licensing schemes related to digitisation.
  •        Panel discussions on digital humanities / digital conservation

Note: The final schedule will be online soon. Please register here. For further information, please visit http://succeed-project.eu/succeed-digitisation