As the spring winds gust across the Wisconsin landscape, so too are we moving forward with the wind at our backs. This month in the Digital Readiness Community of Practice, we have several exciting developments to share.
Digital fairs: Planning continues for our summer Digital Readiness Fairs. These free, half-day events will be held virtually but “hosted” by four different Wisconsin libraries and local history organizations. The fairs will offer a mix of activities and learning opportunities, and we’re thrilled to be showcasing several different digitization projects from around the state. Join us to hear from local history practitioners and how their organizations have tackled their digital projects, specifically their challenges, successes, and lessons learned along the way. We’re excited to provide an opportunity for attendees to make connections and form their own community of practice with fellow attendees. Participants will also learn more about our ongoing digital readiness work, Recollection Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Local History Affiliates program.
Save the date! Mark your calendars for a virtual Digital Readiness Fair! Fairs will be free and open to the public, though registration will be required. Stay tuned for registration information.
- Appleton Public Library: Tuesday, June 29, 9am – 12:30pm
- Crandon Area Historical Society: Friday, July 16, 9am – 12:30pm
- Pioneer Village (Barron County): Tuesday, August 3, 9am – 12:30pm
- Kenosha County Historical Society: Wednesday, August 18, 1 – 4:30pm
Digital Projects Toolkit Website: We’re currently reviewing and updating our Digital Projects Tookit to include the Digital Readiness Levels. Each functional area of the Digital Readiness Levels will include new and/or expanded content to inform your work. We’re collecting and curating resources to share including best practices & lessons learned, workflows and instructions in clear and helpful language. Look for this new and improved Toolkit in summer 2021.
Digital Readiness Glossary: We’re excited to share our new Digital Readiness Glossary! This resource is intended to take some of the mystery out of the jargon, acronyms and terminology that come with digital projects work. Take a look and let us know what you think! Are there other terms you think should be included?
What’s next?
- The digital fairs planning process continues! As we finalize the event schedules and details, we look forward to sharing them with you on the Digital Readiness Community of Practice website.
- Check out our most recent case study focused on the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center. Their experiences developing a content warning statement, collecting and sharing oral history interviews, and working with veterans provide a wealth of information.
Are you interested in learning more about digital readiness and connecting with other local history practitioners engaged in digital work? Join our listserv! Visit digistew and click “Ask to join group” at the top of the page to be added to this listserv. Visit Digital Readiness Community of Practice for more information about this project.
Building a Community of Practice for Digital Readiness in Wisconsin is supported by an
Archives Collaboratives Implementation Grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), the granting arm of the National Archives. Read the full implementation grant narrative submitted to NHPRC.
