From Selection to Discovery
project: Expression of Interest
Project summary
Queensland memory is owned by all Queenslanders. It includes original cultural heritage
materials - found throughout the state in communities and organisations – which can be
widely shared through digitisation. Digitised formats enable broad access to collections
online and contribute to the preservation of unique Queensland collections.
In the Queensland Collections, Access and Digitisation Survey undertaken by State Library
of Queensland in 2013, Queensland heritage organisations identified that training,
equipment and resources were needed to help them progress with digitisation of their
collections.
The aims of the project From Selection to Discovery were developed in response to these
findings, which have been reinforced by work with organisations across the state by State
Library staff. This project specifically targets those organisations which have made some
investment in digitisation but would benefit from support to take the next steps.
From Selection to Discovery will provide five Queensland councils with funding of $5000 and
training to support the completion of a digitisation project which makes collections accessible
to the community, and for preservation into the future.
The workshop component of the program will guide participants through the full spectrum of
activities in the digitisation process, from selection and planning to reformatting, discovery,
and community engagement using the digitised content. It will build skills for staff of public
libraries both to work with their own collections and to support community organisations to
digitise other local heritage collections.
All material digitised through the project will remain the property of the participating library,
organisation or group which holds the physical item.
Expressions of interest to participate in this project are open to all Queensland public
libraries and Indigenous Knowledge Centres. Please see the attached Expression of Interest
template to find out more about eligibility for this project.
Participation
Organisations involved with the project will:
 Have two representatives participate in an intensive workshop with specialist staff at
the State Library of Queensland on digitising collection material and making it
accessible (travel costs funded by State Library)
 Receive a grant of $5000 (GST exempt) to complete a digitisation project. Funds
may be used:
o to upgrade equipment (e.g. scanner, digital camera, software)
o to fund a staff member to undertake dedicated digitisation work for a period
o to outsource the digitisation of a particular collection (e.g. a local newspaper
through the Trove contributor model)
o
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to develop and deliver a collaborative project to digitise local heritage content
with various community groups (e.g. historical societies, community
museums)
o to promote and encourage engagement with digitised collections online or
o a combination of these approaches
Host a follow-up visit by State Library staff to the local area to provide additional
support and advice on completing their digitisation project
Develop a digitisation plan to guide future digitisation activity and community
engagement
Be encouraged to work in partnership with community organisations in the region to
digitise and share unique Queensland heritage collections
Timeframe
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21 January
20 February
27 February
18 March
19-20 March
March
April-June
31 August
Expressions of Interest (EOIs) open
EOIs close
EOI applicants advised of outcome by email
Regional participants travel to SLQ
Digitisation workshop at SLQ (9am – 4:30pm each day)
Organisations invoice State Library to receive project funds
Follow-up visits by State Library staff to successful applicants
Deadline for acquittal of project funds
Further information
To find out more about From Selection to Discovery, contact Penelope Lau, Senior Project
Officer, on (07) 3842 9438 or at penelope.lau@slq.qld.gov.au.
Following the workshop on 19-20 March, project participants may elect to participate in
several professional development events onsite at State Library from 23-27 March, including
the Library Innovations Forum on 23 March. Visit the public libraries training calendar for
further information. Additionally on 22 March State Library will host ALLtogether:
International Day of People with Disability, which participants can choose to attend.
This project receives financial assistance from the Queensland Government through State
Library of Queensland’s Online Public Access in Libraries (OPAL) program.
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Expression of interest
Please send your completed document (maximum 3 pages) to penelope.lau@slq.qld.gov.au
by 5pm, Friday 20 February 2015.
Part A: Your organisation
Council
Contact person for
this project
Name:
Role title:
Phone:
Email:
Part B: Eligibility to participate
Please indicate whether your organisation meets the following criteria.
I can confirm our council:
Response
(Y/N)
Has already made some investment in digitising heritage collection material
Will commit to sending two participants to Brisbane for a two-day workshop
on 19 and 20 March 2015 (travel costs funded by State Library)
Is able to host a follow-up one-day visit by State Library onsite in the local
area between April and June 2015
Is able to commence a digitisation project by 31 May 2015 and acquit the
funding received by 31 August 2015
Is willing to work collaboratively with other community organisations in the
digitisation of local heritage collection material
Is willing to arrange for completion of consent and release forms to enable
use of photographs of staff and local community members participating in
this program; and of digitization plan developed during this program
Part C: Your project
Project name
Digital content and engagement
How would your organisation use funding of $5000 to digitise and make Queensland
cultural heritage material more accessible online?
Please provide an outline of your proposed project.
Note that, if successful, you will have an opportunity to discuss your plans and seek advice
from State Library staff in March. Following the March workshop, you will be asked to
provide more detailed costings and an invoice for payment.
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Reach and network
Are there additional groups (e.g. branch libraries, local heritage organisations, community
museums) in your area that you would include in this project?
Please list the groups that would be invited to participate in your project, how they would be
involved, and what discussions have been held about with these groups about their
involvement to date.
Digitisation status
Has your organisation begun the process of digitising heritage collection material?
Please give an indication of how far this has progressed (for example, whether digitisation
equipment has been purchased; equipment is in use; training has been undertaken; items
have been digitised (in-house or external); digital items have been shared online through
catalogues and/or online platforms). Please provide details of hardware, software or
platforms being used.
Digitisation status
What does your organisation hope to achieve with digitisation by participating in From
Selection to Discovery?
Evaluation
EOIs which meet the participation criteria on page 3 will be evaluated against the following:
Digital content and engagement
Reach and network
Digitisation status
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40%
40%
20%