From Selection to Discovery project: Expression of Interest

Project summary

Queensland memory is owned by all Queenslanders. Itincludes original cultural heritage materials - found throughout the state in communities and organisations –which can be widely shared through digitisation.Digitised formats enable broad access to collections online and contribute to the preservation of unique Queensland collections.

In the Queensland Collections, Access and Digitisation Survey undertakenby State Library of Queensland in 2013, Queensland heritage organisations identified thattraining, equipment and resources were neededto help them progress with digitisation of their collections.

Theaims of the projectFrom Selection to Discoverywere developed in response to these findings, which have been reinforced by work with organisations across the state by State Library staff. This project specifically targets those organisations which have made some investment in digitisation but would benefit from support to take the next steps.

From Selection to Discoverywill provide five Queensland councils with funding of $5000andtrainingto support the completion of a digitisation project which makes collectionsaccessible to the community,and for preservation into the future.

The workshop component of the program will guide participants through the full spectrum of activities in the digitisation process, from selection and planning to reformatting, discovery, and community engagement using the digitised content. It will build skills for staff of public libraries both to work with their own collections and to support community organisations to digitise other local heritage collections.

All material digitised through the project will remain the property of the participatinglibrary, organisation or group which holds the physical item.

Expressions of interest to participate in this project are open to all Queensland public libraries and Indigenous Knowledge Centres. Please see the attached Expression of Interest template to find out more about eligibility for this project.

Participation

Organisations involved with the project will:

  • Have two representatives participate in an intensive workshop with specialist staff at the State Library of Queensland on digitising collection material and making it accessible (travel costs funded by State Library)
  • Receive a grant of $5000 (GST exempt)to complete a digitisation project. Funds may be used:
  • to upgrade equipment (e.g. scanner, digital camera, software)
  • to fund a staff member to undertake dedicated digitisation work for a period
  • to outsource the digitisation of a particular collection (e.g. a local newspaper through the Trove contributor model)
  • to develop and deliver a collaborative project to digitiselocal heritage content with various community groups (e.g. historical societies, community museums)
  • to promote and encourage engagement with digitised collections online or
  • a combination of these approaches
  • Host a follow-up visit by State Library staff to the local area to provide additional support and advice on completing their digitisation project
  • Develop a digitisation plan to guide futuredigitisation activity and community engagement
  • Be encouraged to work in partnership with community organisations in the region to digitise and share unique Queensland heritage collections

Timeframe

  • 21 January Expressions of Interest (EOIs) open
  • 20 FebruaryEOIs close
  • 27 February EOI applicants advised of outcome by email
  • 18 MarchRegional participants travel to SLQ
  • 19-20 MarchDigitisation workshop at SLQ (9am – 4:30pm each day)
  • MarchOrganisations invoice State Library to receive project funds
  • April-JuneFollow-up visits by State Library staff to successful applicants
  • 31 AugustDeadline for acquittal of project funds

Further information

To find out more about From Selection to Discovery, contact PenelopeLau, Senior Project Officer, on (07)38429438 or .

Following the workshop on 19-20 March, project participants may elect to participate in several professional development events onsite at State Library from 23-27 March, including the Library Innovations Forum on 23 March. Visit the public libraries training calendar for further information. Additionally on 22 March State Library will host ALLtogether: International Day of People with Disability, which participants can choose to attend.

This project receives financial assistance from the Queensland Government through State Library of Queensland’sOnline Public Access in Libraries (OPAL) program.

Expression of interest

Please send your completed document (maximum 3 pages)to by 5pm, Friday 20February 2015.

Part A: Your organisation

Council
Contact person for this project / Name:
Role title:
Phone:
Email:

Part B: Eligibility to participate

Please indicate whether your organisation meets the following criteria.

I can confirm our council: / Response (Y/N)
Hasalready made some investment in digitisingheritage collection material
Will commit to sending two participants to Brisbane for a two-day workshop on 19 and 20 March2015 (travel costs funded by State Library)
Is able to host a follow-up one-day visit by State Library onsite in the local area between April and June 2015
Is able to commence a digitisation project by 31 May 2015 and acquit the funding received by 31 August 2015
Is willing to work collaboratively with other community organisations in the digitisation of local heritage collection material
Is willing to arrange for completion of consent and release forms to enable use of photographs of staffand local community members participating in this program; and of digitization plan developed during this program

Part C: Your project

Project name
Digital content and engagement
How would your organisation use funding of $5000 to digitise and make Queensland cultural heritage material more accessible online?
Please provide an outline of your proposed project.
Note that, if successful, you will have an opportunity to discuss your plans and seek advice from State Library staff in March. Following the March workshop, you will be asked to provide more detailed costings and an invoice for payment.
Reach and network
Are there additional groups (e.g. branch libraries, local heritage organisations, community museums) in your area that you would include in this project?
Please list the groups that would be invited to participate in your project, how they would be involved, and what discussions have been held about with these groups about their involvement to date.
Digitisation status
Has your organisation begun the process of digitising heritage collection material?
Please give an indication of how far this has progressed (for example, whether digitisation equipment has been purchased; equipment is in use; training has been undertaken; items have been digitised (in-house or external); digital items have been shared online through catalogues and/or online platforms). Please provide details of hardware, software or platforms being used.
Digitisation status
What does your organisation hope to achieve with digitisation by participating in From Selection to Discovery?

Evaluation

EOIs which meet the participation criteria on page 3 will be evaluated against the following:

Digital content and engagement40%

Reach andnetwork40%

Digitisation status20%

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