1. Five ways to make your digital library program sustainable
Paul Soderdahl
University of Iowa Libraries
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

2. Paul Soderdahl University of Iowa Libraries
Digital library programs are inherently unsustainable Five ways to make your digital library program sustainable
Paul Soderdahl
University of Iowa Libraries
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

3. Digital library programs are inherently unsustainable The End
Paul Soderdahl
University of Iowa Libraries
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

4. “inherently unsustainable”
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

5. late 20th century
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

6. Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

7. Information Arcade®
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

8. Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

9. Information Technology
Information Arcade®
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

10. Public Services Information Arcade® Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

11.
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

12. Information Systems Support Team
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

13. Information Technology
Information Systems Support Team
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

14. 2005-
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

15. “a digital initiatives unit”
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

16. “The Coordinator for Digital Initiatives will oversee a digital initiatives unit that is expected to further the creation of and access to research and scholarly material in digital form...” “The CDI collaborates with other units and departments on campus to offer advice and assistance for digital initiatives…” “…works closely with other library units…” “…also works closely with units across the University…”
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

17. Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

18. Digital Library Services
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

19. Iowa Digital Library
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

20. Digital Library Services
Collections
Digital Library Services
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

21. Information Technology
Digital Library Services
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

22. Information Technology
Digital Library Services
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

23. Library Information Technology
Digital Library Services
Operations and Support
Applications and Web Development
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

24. Library Information Technology
2 yrs ago
Today
8.0
5.0
Librarians
6.5
4.0
IT Professionals
Paraprofessionals
19.5
14.0
TOTAL
12.0
Graduate students
1.5
Student hourly
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

25. “inherently unsustainable”
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

26. #1 Scalability Dilemma
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

27. high touch scalable
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

28. “What if everyone wanted that?”
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

29. they don’t
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

30. Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

31. #1 Scalability Dilemma
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

32. #2 Accumulation Problem
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

33. finished a project ??
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

34. old projects never die
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

35. Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

36. disincentive to start more spinning plates
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

37. #2 Accumulation Problem
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

38. #3 Scope Creeps (you know who you are) Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

39. #4 Nesting Instinct
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

40. tendency to design around the system
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

41. systems change ≠ change systems (note to self: you are at a CONTENTdm conference)
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

42. #4 Nesting Instinct
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

43. “inherently unsustainable”
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

44. “mitigation strategies”
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

45. Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

46. Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

47. Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

48. Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group

49. Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group
Five Mitigation Strategies
Respect separation between presentation and data layers
Know when a project is finished
Be unafraid of scale
Acknowledge that some things don’t scale
Have an exit strategy
April 9, 2010
Midwest CONTENTdm Users Group