VALA2014 Plenary 1 Borgman

Big data, little data, no data: scholarship in the networked world

VALA2014 PLENARY SESSION 1
Tuesday 4 February 2014, 9:05 – 10:15
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2014-proceedings/vala2014-plenary-1-borgman

Christine Borgman

University of California, Los Angeles, USA

Please tag your comments, tweets, and blog posts about this session: #vala14 and #p1

VALA2014 Plenary 1 Borgman Video 0.00 KB

Download

Listen to VALA2014 Red Carpet chat with Christine Borgman (Episode 14) with Corin Haines on Corin’s Library Chat website

Abstract

The enthusiasm for “big data” is obscuring the complexity and diversity of data in scholarship. Inside the black box of “data” is a plethora of behaviour, technology, and policy issues. Publish or perish remains the clarion call of today’s scholars. Now they are being asked to release their data as well, which marks a fundamental transition in scholarly communication. Data are not shiny objects that are easily exchanged. Rather, they are fuzzy and poorly bounded entities. Data flows are uneven – abundant in some areas and sparse in others, easily or rarely shared. Open access and open data are contested concepts that are often conflated. Data practices are local, varying from field to field, individual to individual, and country to country. Data are a lens to observe the rapidly changing landscape of scholarly practice in the sciences, social sciences, and the humanities. The future for libraries to manage the deluge of data is streaming with possibilities – and with challenges. This talk is a preview of the book by this title, forthcoming from MIT Press in fall, 2014.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License.

VALA2014 Plenary 4 Finch

The book of the world: crossing boundaries in culture and outreach

VALA2014 PLENARY SESSION 4
Wednesday 5 February 2014, 16:00 – 17:10
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2014-proceedings/vala2014-plenary-4-finch

Matt Finch

Parkes Shire, NSW

Please tag your comments, tweets, and blog posts about this session: #vala14 and #p4

VALA2014 Plenary 4 Finch Video 0.00 KB

Download

Listen to VALA2014 Red Carpet chat with Matt Finch (Episode 19) with Corin Haines on Corin’s Library Chat website

Abstract

How can we best empower frontline staff in the GLAM sector to develop new ways of serving their communities? Is the cardboard box the single greatest piece of technology in the 21st century public library? Why might chaos and disorder be librarians’ best friends? And should we vaporise anyone who uses the word “hub” when discussing the future of cultural institutions? Matt will explore these questions and more, drawing on recent experiences instigating productive forms of transgression in libraries, galleries, schools, and cultural venues across Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (The VALA organisers would like to reassure you that any vaporisation will be purely figurative).

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License.

VALA2014 Session 1 Piper

The South Australian Red Cross Information Bureau

VALA2014 CONCURRENT SESSION 1: Think Big
Tuesday 4 February 2014, 11:25 – 11:55
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2014-proceedings/vala2014-session-1-piper

Andrew Piper

State Library of South Australia

Please tag your comments, tweets, and blog posts about this session: #vala14 and #2

VALA2014 Session 1 Piper Paper 1.13 MB

Download

VALA2014 Session 1 Piper Video 0.00 KB

Download

Abstract

The State Library of South Australia (SLSA) is honouring the memory of those who served at the front lines on World War 1 and on the home front, through a series of projects. The principal project is the creation of a new web resource of the records of the South Australian Red Cross Information Bureau (SARCIB). The web resource will utilise volunteers and provide opportunities for community created content. By leveraging existing tools such as MARC, the project will lead the way for future delivery of our collections and provide an opportunity for SLSA to apply Linked Open Data. It is anticipated this resource will be available early in 2015.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License.

VALA2014 Plenary 5 Ridge

Bringing maker culture to cultural organisations

VALA2014 PLENARY SESSION 5
Thursday 6 February 2014, 8:45 – 9:55
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2014-proceedings/vala2014-plenary-5-ridge

Mia Ridge

The Open University, UK

Please tag your comments, tweets, and blog posts about this session: #vala14 and #p5

VALA2014 Plenary 5 Ridge Video 0.00 KB

Download

Abstract

Should museums, libraries and archives be places for looking at old stuff other people have made, or could they also be places where new creations are inspired and made? If making – writing, designing, building – is the deepest level of engagement with heritage and culture, how can memory institutions avoid the comforting but deadly trap of broadcasting at the public and instead create spaces for curating, creating or conversing with them?

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License.

VALA2014 Plenary 6 Murphy

Library as future

VALA2014 PLENARY SESSION 6
Thursday 6 February 2014, 15:55 – 17:05
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2014-proceedings/vala2014-plenary-6-murphy

Joe Murphy

Libraryfuture, USA

Please tag your comments, tweets, and blog posts about this session: #vala14 and #p6

VALA2014 Plenary 6 Murphy Video 0.00 KB

Download

Listen to VALA2014 Red Carpet chat with Joe Murphy (Episode 16) with Corin Haines on Corin’s Library Chat website

Abstract

Future as platform. Libraries connect two great stories: inspiration points and adaptation to tech change. Joe Murphy (librarian and futures/tech trends analyst) explores the long-term future roles of libraries and near-future market trends while synthesizing the impact of now technology directions on libraries. Librarians play at the crossroads of discovery, horizons, and innovation. We use the story levers of excitement and tension in designing the profession that is needed for a future defined by change. A profession made up of self-guided librarians that embrace the inspiration life cycle as libraries pivot from overwhelmed by challenges, towards excelling in streams of possibilities. Libraries will serve as the canary in the coalmine, amongst the first to face challenges from tech and culture shifts. Emerging roles for libraries also include: enabler of community futures and leadership connectors. Future as platform, library as future, inspiration as lift off points. @libraryfuture

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License.

VALA2014 Session 1 Ludekens

CPA Australia’s archive story

VALA2014 CONCURRENT SESSION 1: Think Big
Tuesday 4 February 2014, 12:00 – 12:30
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2014-proceedings/vala2014-session-1-ludekens

Kerrie Ludekens and Kerry Gutowski

CPA Australia, Vic

Please tag your comments, tweets, and blog posts about this session: #vala14 and #3

VALA2014 Session 1 Ludekens Paper 222.84 KB

Download

VALA2014 Session 1 Ludekens Video 0.00 KB

Download

Abstract

The CPA Australia Archives, a unique collection of records extending back 130 years, document the history of the organisation, the development of the accounting profession and the social and business history of Australia. These Archives are a rich source of information for academics and members of the public interested in their family history. To enhance access, CPA Australia and several Australian universities applied for and were successful in obtaining a linkage grant from Australian Research Council (ARC) to digitise the Archives. This paper discusses the digitisation process.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License.

VALA2014 Session 2 Balnaves

Complex harvesting for content from public sources and email

VALA2014 CONCURRENT SESSION 2: It’s All About the Data
Tuesday 4 February 2014, 12:00 – 12:30
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2014-proceedings/vala2014-session-2-balnaves

Edmund Balnaves

Prosentient Systems, NSW

Please tag your comments, tweets, and blog posts about this session: #vala14 and #s6

VALA2014 Session 2 Balnaves Paper 156.54 KB

Download

VALA2014 Session 2 Balnaves Video 0.00 KB

Download

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a project for complex harvesting system from web and email sources integrated with open source platforms to improve discovery of information about or relevant to the organisation from public internet sources. The paper discusses methods of harvesting, drawing on a mix of RSS, Google API search and simple web parsing. The paper presents the results of automated metadata allocation and subsequent manual curation. The project highlights the need to use multiple web scanning techniques, so as to be sufficiently exhaustive to catch relevant references, but also sufficiently specific to avoid unduly large false positive candidates for selection.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License.

VALA2014 Session 9A Panel

Creating a Global Biodiversity Heritage Library

VALA2014 CONCURRENT SESSION 9A: Scanning Locally, Collaborating Globally
Wednesday 5 February 2014, 13:45 – 15:25
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2014-proceedings/vala2014-session-9a-panel

Panel:

Dr Nancy Gwinn

Smithsonian Institution Libraries, Washington, USA

Mr Martin Kalfatovic

BHL, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, USA

Dr Elycia Wallis

Museum Victoria, Victoria, Australia

Mr William Ulate

Missouri Botanical Garden, St Louis, USA

Ms Anne-Lise Fourien

South African National Biodiversity Institute, SA

Mr Jiri Frank

National Museum, Prague, Czech Republic

Please tag your comments, tweets, and blog posts about this session: #vala14 and #s27

Abstract

The Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL), originally formed in 2006 as a consortium of museum and botanical garden libraries, now incorporates collaborators in the US, UK, Europe, Australia, South America, Egypt, China, and Africa. BHL now aggregates nearly 40 million pages of biodiversity literature representing over 117,000 volumes, including pre-Linnean (>1753) to contemporary volumes. The primary user base is life-science researchers. Providing open and free access to the published literature of biodiversity, the BHL serves as a model for a large-scale curated digital library collection. This panel will discuss topics related to creating and maintaining a multinational digital library program.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License.

VALA2014 Home Page

It’s A Wrap!

VALA2014, the 17th Biennial Conference and Exhibition, is over, but the great content, presentations and images that it generated can be viewed and downloaded from the Conference pages – I invite you to relive some of the most memorable moments (will we ever forget “pants off Wednesday”?) and continue your learning journey.

A huge thank you to all participants in VALA2014 for making the Conference so successful; over 1400 people came through the doors to experience 6 outstanding keynote speakers; 44 papers in 15 concurrent sessions; 6 Boot Camp sessions; 7 L-Plate sessions; and a capacity Conference Dinner on a stunning night in the magnificent NGV. The 107-booth Exhibition was again an outstanding aspect of our event and we are indebted to our loyal and valued sponsors and exhibitors for making VALA this region’s conference of choice for the best vendors in the industry.

True to our agenda, we introduced some new technology to VALA2014 which you embraced with gusto. Live twitter feeds into all sessions generated +10,000 tweets and blew up our google spreadsheet; our ShowGizmo mobile app provided over 400 of you with paper-free information, opportunity and interaction.

Topped off with decent coffee, some truly great food, strong wifi, outstanding conference management (thank you WSM) and our brilliant library-and-allied-industries community, VALA2014 ticked all the boxes.

On behalf of the Conference Committee, thank you for coming and we look forward to welcoming you back to VALA2016.

Kim Tairi
Chair, VALA2014 Conference Committee

Listen to Kim Tairi’s Conference Opening Address

Let everyone know you are attending the VALA2014 Conference! Copy and save one of the buttons below and put it up on your website or blog, with a link to https://www.vala.org.au/conferences/vala2014/.

If you are interested in holding a workshop in conjunction with the conference, please contact the VALA2014 Conference Office.

Call for Abstracts

Call for Abstracts has now closed but you can see details of topics that were available .

Big data, little data, no data: scholarship in the networked world

Christine Borgman

Abstract

The book of the world: crossing boundaries in culture and outreach

Matt Finch

Abstract

The South Australian Red Cross Information Bureau

Andrew Piper

Abstract

Bringing maker culture to cultural organisations

Mia Ridge

Abstract

Library as future

Joe Murphy

Abstract

CPA Australia’s archive story

Kerrie Ludekens and Kerry Gutowski

Abstract

Marking up NSW: Wikipedia, newspapers and the State Library

Simon Cootes

Abstract

Complex harvesting for content from public sources and email

Edmund Balnaves

Abstract

Creating a Global Biodiversity Heritage Library

Dr Nancy Gwinn

Mr Martin Kalfatovic

Dr Elycia Wallis

Mr William Ulate

Ms Anne-Lise Fourien

Mr Jiri Frank

Abstract

It’s A Wrap!