During FY2009 we maintained two social initiatives for the MDL (the Social Side of Reflections and the Minnesota Finder search engine) while developing a third (a workflow to move Reflections records to Flickr). Here we propose that during FY2010 we maintain these initiatives, adding to the Minnesota Finder coverage, assisting with any Flickr engagement, presenting a session on our work at the CONTENTdm meeting in Madison this October, and advising MDL with regard to its future development.

Minnesota Finder

This prototype search engine (http://search.mndigital.org/) continues to operate without incident, but also without many users. The MDL is increasing the license for Minnesota Finder to 300,000 items (the current maximum for the Google Mini search appliance we are using) and needs to make sure these 300,000 items are populated and as well balanced as they can be.

Deliverable 1: Work with one or two additional institutions to add their content to Minnesota Finder.

Cost: $2,600

System administration for Minnesota Finder. Managing the schedule and indexing priorities of the limited Google Search Appliance license owned by MDL. Working with Minitex staff when hardware and upgrade issues arise.

Deliverable 2: Decent, though not bulletproof, performance and availability of the search appliance.

Cost: $1,500

MDL+Flickr

Work with at least the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest, JHSUM) and other MDL participants to help them maintain their Flickr account and, if invited, move their content to the Flickr Commons.

Deliverable 3: JHSUM images will be publicly viewable either on their own account or in the commons.

Cost: $1,300

Be available to other as many as three other MDL sites that would like to move images from Reflections to Flickr accounts of their own.

Deliverable 4: MDL content of these sites would become publicly viewable in Flickr.

Cost: $2,000

Social Side of Reflections

System administration for the Social Side of Reflections. Managing the upkeep of PmWiki system and any integration issues that arise with Reflections. Working with Minitex staff when hardware and upgrade issues arise.

Deliverable 5: Decent, though not bulletproof, performance and availability of the social side system.

Cost: $1,500

Other Services

I will be available for no more than one day per month to assist the MDL team with other MDL issues as they arise, working with MDL on appropriate uses of technology for informing, communicating, and collaborating with its constituencies. This may include, but is not limited to, assisting with the evaluation of new collection opportunities or consulting with the MDL team on plans for future versions of Reflections.

Deliverable 6: Availability for meetings with MDL director, management group, and team.

Cost: $6,200

I will attend the CONTENTdm regional users group meeting in Madison and present at a session that describes the technical work we have done to integrate the Social Side of Reflections and Flickr with Minnesota Reflections.

Deliverable 7: Presentation at the October CONTENTdm meeting in Madison.

Cost: $1,000

I will produce a final report documenting the changes made throughout the whole FY2010 timeframe and making recommendations for next steps.

Deliverable 8: Final report in June 2010.

Cost: $1,800

Putting the picture together

As a consultant, I do not charge by the hour. The costs above will be charged as a flat rate. These costs total $17,900. I will submit an invoice for $6,000 at the beginning of December, $6,000 at the beginning of March, and the remaining $5,900 at the beginning of June 2009.