Call for Proposals: Digital Govt. Info - Best Practices Exchange 2010

Received via email.

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The Best Practices Exchange (www.bpexchange.org/2010/) is an informal gathering of practitioners working to create systems to manage, preserve, and provide access to digital government information.  The Exchange provides an opportunity for them to discuss their real-world experiences, including best practices and lessons learned. Past attendees include librarians, archivists,  information technologists, educators, and researchers. 

BPE 2010 will take place in Phoenix, Arizona, 29 September through 1 October.  The program includes keynote addresses by David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States, and Laura Campbell, Associate Librarian for Strategic Initiatives, Library of Congress and the leader of the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program.

Exchange sessions -- the heart of the program -- feature two or three individuals sharing their experiences and ideas about how to manage digital collections.  Presentations are typically fifteen to twenty minutes, followed by informal, collaborative discussions with other practitioners.

Don't let a lack of funding keep you from participating! Due to the generous support of the Library of Congress, National Digital Information and Infrastructure Program, there is no registration fee and some meals are provided.  A limited number of scholarships that cover three nights in the conference hotel are available for those who make presentations.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Individuals are invited to propose presentations that will spark participant discussion in four areas.

1. New ways of working
       The advent of new tools and new media suggest that libraries and archives will have to develop new ways of working in order to take advantage of them. What you are doing and what should our professions be doing to meet these new opportunities? Topics could include: innovative collaborations; new skills; strategic plans and prioritization; education and outreach; and evaluation and measurement.

2. New tools
       Are you using or developing a new tool? Are you using an "old" tool in a new way? This is the chance to show off the newest tools, share creative uses for "old" favorites and pass on tips and tricks. Rapidly evolving technologies are allowing for automation, collaboration and innovation. Sessions in this track can be more “show and tell” like than those in other tracks, but actual demonstrations aren't required.

3. New media
       More and more of the content people are creating, and which we will have to manage, is new to us. What are the expectations and the models? Who is creating what and how will archives adapt to the changes technology continually introduces? This track will focus on the collection and preservation of social media, the rising use of digital audio and video, and complex, evolving records types such as content from geographic information systems.

4. Policy and Administration
       All our activities take place in an administrative, legal and fiscal context. This track will spotlight the challenges involved in designing, developing and managing programs for the long-term sustainability of digital objects.  Potential topics could include ensuring program and project transparency; finding and maintaining funding sources; achieving procedural accountability for a trusted digital repository; collaboration; supporting and developing partnerships; and developing and maintaining institutional policy and procedures.

As the digital preservation is changing constantly and those working in the field are always coming up with new ideas, a fifth track is available for other topics.  If you have a great idea, we want to hear about it.

PROPOSALS

Proposals should include a 200-500 word abstract, the proposed track (if applicable), and the name, title, and organization of each presenter. Please send all proposals to bpexchange.org by 30 June 2010. The Committee will respond to all proposals by 1 August.  Submit proposals online atwww.bpexchange.org/2010/call.php.