IST 676 - Seed Saving Digital Library
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This document outlines plans for the Seed Saving Digital Library (SSDL) project. The SSDL will be a single online source of information about seed saving, including history, practices, organizations, and how to save specific types of seeds. It will obtain content from seed saving organizations, libraries, publishers, and individual seed savers. The project will last one year and involve planning, development, and pre-launch phases to develop the digital library platform and populate it with content and user feedback. The goals are to inform people about seed saving and support related organizations and libraries.
IST 676 - Seed Saving Digital Library
- 1. Seed Saving Digital Library IST 676 Kara Moran Kugelmeyer
- 3. What is Seed Saving? • Seed Saving is the practice of saving seeds (in all forms, seeds, tubers, nuts, etc.) from vegetables, grains, herbs, and flowers, so that you can reuse these seeds for future crops/seasons. • Seed Saving promotes genetic diversity and crop sustainability. • Did you know why seed saving and genetic diversity are important? “Seventy-five percent of all the seeds ever used in agriculture are estimated to have become extinct by 1990. Ninety five percent are expected to be extinct by the year 2000. We are depleting our genetic base by overdependence on too few highly specialized varieties.” Jeavons (1995)
- 4. SSDL Concept: • The concept for a digital library on Seed Saving (SSDL) originated in part because there is no single and comprehensive content source or digital repository on Seed Saving. • Providing a single source for a wide variety of information on Seed Saving will not only support this important ecological practice, but also help promote the concept. • The SSDL will also support a growing public library service as well, seed sharing.
- 6. Goals: The goals of the SSDL project are as follows: Informational •To create a single point of access for relevant and authoritative information on Seed Saving Support •To support the overall Seed Saving mission, including public libraries vision as well Preservation •To help preserve information and resources on Seed Saving Unite •To bring together Seed Savers across the nation and globe
- 7. SSDL Objectives: •Content aggregation and curation •Digitization of content •Creation of robust metadata •Interface that is easy to use and understand •Fair treatment of intellectual property •Dissemination/Outreach for SSDL
- 8. Users: •The SSDL will provide information for those interested in Seed Saving such as: •Gardeners •Environmentalists •Botanists •Companies that produce and sell heirloom seeds •Commercial growers • Seed Saving Organizations •Librarians •Students •Researchers
- 9. Users Needs Assessments: •Creating a service that meets the needs of its users is a foundational goal for the SSDL project and key to its long-term sustainability as a viable resource. •To help ensure that user needs are identified and met the SSDL team will undertake the following: •Surveys to help assess user needs for: content, design features and functions. •Creation of user profiles •Interviews with power users. •Guide content creation and acquisition, core functionality and ensure that key navigational and search features and functionality have been identified. •Usability and design feedback testing.
- 10. Content: •The SSDL will offer content on: • About Seed Saving • History •Practice(s) •Practitioners • Saving Seeds •Common, scientific name of seed(s) •Descriptions of the seed •How to grow, harvest and save them •Seed Saving Organizations • Who • Where • Why
- 11. Content Sources: •The SSDL will get content from: •Seed Saving Organizations •Libraries •Seed Savers •Publishers •Books •Journals •Magazines •Articles •Blogs •News Organizations
- 12. Content Formats: •The SSDL will offer content in variety of formats •Text •PDF •Video •Audio •Images: jpeg, gif, tiff, etc.
- 13. SSDL Technology: •Because the SSDL will be a very small resource compared to many digital libraries and the staff will be limited the best recommendation of the SSDL is to license and use digital library cloud hosted software. • Examples like Greenstone and Veridian, or partnering with a library or library technology provider that already has a stable digital library platform, who would be willing to “rent” space for the SSDL •Basic features and functionality that will need to be part of the software includes: •Webpage creation/modification •Software for imbedded reader •Robust search/indexing features •Robust metadata features •Ability to add, delete and modify content •Security/Access •Analytics feature to track usage •Sophistication of software – will it be improved upon as time goes on, stay abreast of current technological advancements in digital libraries •Interoperablity
- 14. SSDL Project Plan • The total project timeline is 1 year, broken down into three phases: Planning – 3 Months Select vendor for software and hosting - 1 Month Content identification and acquisition – 3 Months Gathering User Feedback – 3 Months Creating Project Plan – 3 Months Outreach and Marketing Plan Creation – 3 months Development – 6 Months Content digitization – 5 months Uploading content, metadata mapping and tagging – 6 months User interface and design – 4 months Launch of marketing and outreach Pre-Launch– 3 Months Testing/QA in house and user testing– 1 month Ongoing marketing Metadata refinement – 1 month User design modifications - 1 month (happens after testing and metatdata refinement) Beta Softlaunch – one month after user design modifications
- 15. SSDL Budget Pre-Launch •Digital Library License Fee - $10,000 •Equipment for digitization - $10,000 •Software for digitizing - $5,000 •Staffing - $25,000 •Content Acquisition - $10,000 •Marketing - $10,000 Post-Launch •Annual Staff - $15,000 •Annual License Fee - $7,500 •Annual Content Fees - $5,000 •Annual Marketing $10,000
- 16. SSDL Outreach/Marketing Plan •Creating value proposition piece for SSDL •Identification and marketing to sister-groups/organizations – building a network with organizations dedicated to Seed Saving is essential to spreading the word and getting new content. •Creating both an elevator speech and marketing materials that outline the who, what, whys of the site and tell about the value proposition of the site are essential. Also working with them to market the site to their users. •These sister organizations include but are not limited to: Seed Saving organizations, libraries, higher-education institutions that have horticultural and agricultural divisions, seed-companies. •Means to contact them would include: •Emails/Letters •Phone calls •Meetings •Marketing direct to users Search engine marketing Face Book
- 17. SSDL Sustainability Plan • Offer a unique and authoritative source of information on Seed Saving • Offer users a site that is intuitive and fun to use • Use current and flexible technologies • Create a flexible staffing model to control costs • Fund project through multiple sources •Continuous and “aggressive” outreach and marketing
- 18. Questions?