JISC

Last week’s digitisation conference in Cardiff attracted not only 150 senior delegates from the UK and abroad but also the attention of bloggers across the world. Organised by JISC, 'The conference brought together key figures from the UK, USA, Canada, Europe and beyond to explore some of the key challenges facing organisations in digitising and making available key digital resources'the conference brought together key figures from the UK, USA, Canada, Europe and beyond to explore some of the key challenges facing organisations in digitising and making available key digital resourcesto learners, teachers and researchers and indeed to all citizens.

The two-day conference – preceded by a one-day international e-content symposium - was covered by a live blog which reported on the more than 70 presentations, break-out sessions and keynote speeches made during the three days. The blog will remain open to allow discussion to continue and to allow those who were not able to attend to learn about national and international developments in digitisation and e-content. 

The editor of Information World Review Mark Chillingworth was present at the conference last Thursday, reporting on a number of break-out sessions but also quoting from a keynote speech by JISC Executive Secretary Dr Malcolm Read, who said: ‘There is a lot of content out there that needs joining up with what we do. JISC is working with MLA - (we) want to work across an environment of content that is useful across education, health and culture. The driver behind this is economy of scale, but also to improve access.’ (To read Mark’s blog, please go to: IWR)

James Clay’s blog also covers the event and in particular break-out sessions on user experiences, the use of images and how developments in access management are impacting on access to online resources of all kinds. ‘A really interesting and useful conference,’ reports James. (See Wordpress) 

Brian Kelly of UKOLN, one of the speakers at the conference also reports on the conference in his blog. He writes:  ‘I introduced the session by making use of a scenario planning approach (which I learnt about from a JISC Users and Innovation event some time ago) based on a scenario in which Web 2.0 wins, and users and institutions are making increasing use of externally-provided services. The title of my talk was “Globalisation 0f Social Networks” and the slides are available on Slideshare.’

The conference was ‘a success,’ reports Brian, although, like many, he continues, his journey from the conference on Friday was hampered by the severe flooding. 

Another speaker at the conference was Rick Prelinger, Board President of the US-based Internet Archive, who also reports on the conference in his blog.

To access the digitisation conference blog, please go to: Digitisation