The Best Practices Exchange was not a traditional conference; there were no speakers (in the traditional sense of the word). Instead there were two facilitated large group sessions (an opening forum and a closing wrap-up), and six small group topic-based Exchange Sessions. Multiple small group Exchange Sessions were conducted simultaneously allowing for more in-depth and intimate "round table" type discussion. Contributors presented and shared specifics of their experiences on a particular topic, inspiring questions and discussions for the session.

 

The major themes and ideas generated from the sessions were recorded on large wall murals which have been synthesized in the "Exchange Summaries" portion of the site.

 

Opening Session: Creating a Digital Preservation Program

The opening session began with an introduction to the conference by Jan Reagan, and welcome speeches from State Librarian, Mary Boone and State Archivist, Dick Lankford.

Attendees were then introduced to the participatory nature of the conference via a small group exercise. Participants were asked one of three questions related to digital management/preservation. Each small group discussed their specific question and then reported their ideas to all the participants. Discussions were graphically captured by Visual Journalist and Founder of Visual Insight, Eileen Clegg.

Click here to view the Introductory Presentation

Click here to view Question 1 and Visual Mural of Responses

Click here to view Question 2 and Visual Mural of Responses

Click here to view Question 3 and Visual Mural of Responses

Exchange Sessions

The Exchange Sessions covered nine broad topics related to Digital Preservation: Access to Digital Assets; Resources/Workflows for Managing Digital Assets; Repository Systems; Preservation of Digital Assets; Collection of Digital Assets; Organization: Central versus Federated; Identification, Selection, and Appraisal of Digital Assets; Metadata; and Authentication of Digital Assets.

Each topic was discussed in three or four different Exchange Sessions. The specific content of each session was unique based upon the specific contributors. A facilitator/recorder attended every session and was responsible for keeping the discussion fully interactive and participatory, as well as recording discussions on wall murals. A synthesis of the wall murals may be seen in the "Exchange Summary" portion of the site. Visual Murals recorded by Eileen Clegg during the Exchange Sessions may be viewed in the "Visual Journal."

 

Evening Reception

There was a reception following the day's activities on Monday. March 27, at the historic Thalian Hall for the Performing Arts Ballroom. The reception included a tour of Thalian theater by local historian, Tony Rivenbark and a keynote address by William LeFurgy, Digital Initiatives Project Manager at the Library of Congress. The reception allowed colleagues to meet one another and network in an informal atmosphere, while enjoying the beauty of the city.

 

Closing Wrap-Up Session

Richard Pearce-Moses, Director of Digital Government Information at the Arizona State Library, summed up the issues discussed in the Exchange Sessions, offered suggestions for moving forward, and facilitated discussion and input from participants for next steps. Eileen Clegg offered a summation of her Visual Murals which included identifying some of the recurring issues and themes that ran throughout the Exchange.