Reports

Progress Report:  21 September 2005  

Committee Members: Alice Anderson, Tennessee Wesleyan; Judi Bugniazet, Montreat; Melodi Goff, Carson-Newman; Kathy Parker, West Virginia Wesleyan;  Laura Slacum, Bethany; Eric Waggoner, Lee; Vaughn Webb, Ferrum; Robyn Williams, Lincoln Memorial

ACA Central Library Staff: Dianne Schaefer, Andrew Pauly

Project Status:  The Digital Library of Appalachia now contains nearly 10,000 items in twelve institutional collections.  As of Sept. 20, 2005, those collections included:

Berea College........................................ 1,488

Cumberland College.................................. 19

Ferrum College..................................... 3,505
King College............................................ 169

Lee University........................................... 38

Lees McRae College................................ 147

Lincoln Memorial University................... 290

Lindsey Wilson College............................. 48

Mars Hill College..................................... 121

Tennessee Wesleyan College................... 225

Warren Wilson College......................... 3,633

West Virginia Wesleyan College............. 231

TOTAL................................................. 9,914

By File Type:

Compound Objects.................................... 29

HTM(L) Documents................................ 261

JPEG........................................................ 750

MOV............................................................ 7

MP3...................................................... 8,243

PDF.......................................................... 499

TIF........................................................... 131

TXT.............................................................. 1

URL............................................................. 2

Infrastructure

The server hosting the Digital Library of Appalachia moved from Berea to University of the South on May 18, 2005.  I'm pleased to report the move happened quickly and smoothly, and that public access to the online collections was restored within a day.  Locating the server at Sewanee has given us access to robust telecommunications connectivity as well as technical support for server maintenance and trouble-shooting.

The IT staff at Sewanee upgraded the software used to run the DLA, ContentDM, on July 29, 2005.  This was a major upgrade, requiring a system shutdown and upgrades to all client workstations.  Public access to the collections was restored within one working day.  However, problems with server capacity and client access made this a longer transition than expected for library staff.  Full functionality for staff was restored by August 11.

Project Development

The Digitization Committee has continued its work through online collaboration rather than physical meetings.   For participants, much of the late summer was given over to learning features of the new version of ContentDM, using online tutorials, consultations with the vendor, and peer-to-peer support.   

We have begun working toward increased contextualization of DLA materials by adding introductory pages to the major topical categories.  From the front page, users are brought to topical pages for Arts & Culture, Education, Music, and Work.  In addition, we have modified the Essays page to make the browse list of essays more prominent, and we have updated Katherine Vande Brake's essay on Melungeons of Vardy County, TN.   Other noteworthy additions include materials from the Byard Ray Festival contributed by Mars Hill College; regional music from Berea College; community histories added by West Virginia Wesleyan College; and interviews from Ferrum College. 

Participating institutions have been finding ways to use the Digital Library of Appalachia not only to support learning about the Appalachian region, but to connect with alumni as well.  For example, Lincoln Memorial University will be using the Digital Library of Appalachia during its Homecoming (October 13-15) as a daily exhibit.  LMU is highlighting its history via Lincoln Herald articles in the DLA, as well as providing visitors the opportunity to learn more about Appalachian history, work, arts, culture, etc.  Likewise West Virginia Wesleyan has added links to relevant DLA material from its alumni web page.

Future Concerns: 

As we approach holdings of 10,000 digital items, the DLA has moved well beyond a demonstration project to become a significant research resource.  We have received recognition of its value by the library community through multiple invitations to present on our work at professional conferences and meetings.  We need to increase our efforts to promote its use among the scholarly community, especially members of the Appalachian Studies Association.

We have also found that there are large repositories of Appalachian collections are still held in many ACA member libraries.  These include important collections on the history of religion in America, Appalachian material culture, and even more music.  The institutions holding these collections lack the resources (especially staff) needed to undertake a digitization initiative.  While maintenance and modest increases in the DLA are assured under the existing Central Library structure, substantial growth will require additional external funding.  We endorse the work of ACA staff in seeking grant funds to assist us in our work of improving access to information about Appalachia.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathy Parker

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