Building A Virtual Community The Experience Leif Isaksen, Antiquist

A Community For I.T. Practitioners In Cultural Heritage “Antiquist is primarily a communication network - a way for us to talk, argue, experiment, share ideas, and solve common problems.” Relaunched in September ‘antiquistas’ (9 mods) Academic, commercial and governmental spheres.

Communities Of Practice & Communities Of Correspondence Social networks vs ‘vocational spaces’ Antiquist: –targeted different communities –Proactive invitation Rapid, then steady growth

Encouraging Participation Antiquist –mixed moderatorship –‘relaxed’ style –annual workshop –placements Result - hard to tell but contributions from all groups.

Openness Encouraging candour was key principle Antiquist –people subscribe personally (not in public role) –closed list until recently Seems to have made no difference. Members definitely prefer openness

(In)formal Membership Sign-up doesn’t imply representation Antiquist –‘Requests for information’ –Fora for discussion Frustrating but necessary.

Keeping Contact Integration vs fragmentation Antiquist –List most successful –Wiki useful for events/projects –Blog dead Spam an issue Regular ArchCamps

Inter-community Cooperation Antiquist –Quite a lot of cross- posting between DC, DA+H, FISH. –Other connections mainly at moderator level (idea sharing etc.) Would like more, but difficult in practice.

Final Thoughts Innovation tends to be Moderator driven Be clear about purpose and demographic Provides real service Builds social as well as work networks