How the Exchange Works

The Best Practices Exchange is not a traditional conference; there are no speakers (in the traditional sense of the word). Instead there will be two facilitated large group sessions (an opening forum and a closing wrap-up), and six small group topic-based exchange sessions conducted throughout the 2-day meeting. Multiple small group exchange sessions will be conducted simultaneously allowing for more in-depth and intimate "round table" type discussion. Attendees who have expressed interest in presenting and sharing specifics of their experiences on a particular topic (via the registration form) will lead exchange session discussions.

 

Participants in each session will contribute to the discussion by asking questions and sharing their own experiences, ideas, and knowledge. The major themes and ideas generated from the sessions will be captured graphically on large wall murals. A walk-through "gallery" of murals will be posted in the main meeting room for review and further discussion.

 

Opening Session: Creating a Digital Preservation Program

The opening forum will begin with introductions from the attendees and move into a facilitated discussion of the critical issues involved in creating a digital preservation program within state government. The forum will use discussion questions to foster a deeper collective understanding of digital preservation in state government. The session will be facilitated by Jan Reagan, Project Manager for the Access to State Government Information Initiative at the State Library of North Carolina, and Eileen Clegg, Visual Journalist and Founder of Visual Insight. Eileen will graphically capture the essence of the discussions on wall murals that will be displayed and used throughout the Exchange.

 

 

Exchange Sessions

The Exchange Sessions will cover nine broad topics related to Digital Preservation. The specific content of each session, however, will be determined by the meeting attendees who have agreed to present their experience and session participants who participate in the discussion. Each exchange session will have a facilitator/recorder who will be responsible for keeping the discussion on topic and fully interactive and participatory. Results of each exchange session will be shared and discussed in the Closing Wrap-Up session.

 

Evening Reception

There will be a reception following the day's activities on Monday. March 27, at the historic Thalian Hall for the Performing Arts Ballroom, located within walking distance of the Hilton Riverside Hotel in downtown Wilmington. The reception will include a tour of the theater by local historian, Tony Rivenbark and a keynote address by William LeFurgy, Digital Initiatives Project Manager at the Library of Congress. Heavy hors d'oeurvres will be served.

 

Closing Wrap-Up Session

In the closing wrap-up session, Richard Pearce-Moses, Director of Digital Government Information at the Arizona State Library, will sum up the issues discussed in the exchange sessions, offer suggestions for moving forward, and facilitate discussion and input from participants for next steps.