Vision Session Content and Users Group

Straw Man Proposal – Vision: Comments Include statement of whose library it is – ownership, stakeholders –Is ownership the way to represent a partnership? –What other terms can be used instead of ownership? Headquarters? “Of” the Middle East? “Centered?” –B.A. is the base that we build on –Should be clearly based in the Middle East and structured and controlled by them

Straw Man Proposal – Vision Comments Building an infrastructure for many partners to use focusing on the Middle East Need to have cultural sensitivity to make it work Users – spectrum of children to researchers Too broad? Focus on sharpening last paragraph

Straw Man Proposal – Vision Comments Concern about lack of representation of other Middle East countries, especially those who already are doing digital projects Can’t wait until others are ready to collaborate, but can include others when they are ready; begin small, as consortium, working within guidelines and standards

Straw Man Proposal – Vision Comments Short, not focused on process, address the ownership or “home” issue; does not need to specify B.A.

Alternate vision 1 To digitize and put online the unique collections of the Middle East to facilitate searches all over the world To weave together the unique documents, rare books, and historical items into rich fabric representative of the regional history To investigate digital library best practice and standards, including quality assurance, and to establish an infrastructure for further digitization projects in the region to be expandable, upgradeable, with no re-designing or re- engineering

Alternate vision 2 We propose a