Digital Library Workgroup
From WEFT Wiki
The Music Committee, in recognizing the need to open a pathway toward a computerized music library, has established the Digital Library Workgroup (DLW) in order to prepare a proposal to this effect. The current thinking is that a phased approach, with attainable, useful, short-term goals and sustainable, progressive, long-term goals will appeal to the WEFT membership and create new and interesting volunteer opportunities.
Contents |
News & Meetings
Tune in to weftdb@weft.org for announcements!
- Next meeting: 2007-03-07, 8PM, WEFT Great Hall
- Meeting notes from Jan. 24
Overview
As a subcommittee of the Music Committee (MC), the Digital Library Workgroup is tasked with drafting a proposal for the MC to vote on as soon as a comprehensive, well thought-out document is ready. It is the MC's responsibility to vote on formalizing the proposal, and if so voted, refine the draft and make a formal proposal to the Board of Directors.
The timeline of the phases grows exponentially, while the level of detail we expect to provide at each step will probably decrease proportionally.
Phase 1
Phase 1 is intended to make it possible for the Music Committee to add music to a computerized music library, and for interested, technologically savvy airshifters to use the studio to send that music out over the electro-radio-waves. This could come to fruition within just a couple of months; perhaps February of 2007.
Issues
Storage, costs, future upgrades
- Current storage prices? How much is needed?
- Do we need a RAID setup? What level? Hot-swapping? Backups?
- Should we compress at high quality? Low quality? Both?
Volunteer Labor
- How long would it take to re-rip an entire 200GB drive full of music?
- How does that compare to the cost of an extra hard drive?
- How many man-hours per week to digitize incoming new music?
Software, integration, and playback
- How does the archive interface with the new and old boards?
- How do we organize the computer-fied version? Directory structure? Filesystem?
- What software used for playback? Operating system?
Legal Stuff
- Do our promo CDs legally prohibit such copying and storage?
- How to absolutely prevent further copying?
- How do we ensure that we only add to the system the music we have received as promotional copies?
Phase 2
Phase 2 will probably entail incorporating the majority of incoming new music into the library, as well as any online-only distributions; starting on ripping the entire WEFT collection is a possibility. Training will be available for interested members. This could take several months to a year or more.
Phase 3
Phase 3 is the long-term vision, possibly including computerized or even online playlist tracking, automated programming during dead hours, and incorporation of the Digital Library into the airshifter training curriculum.
Proposal
The formal proposal has been moved to a new page of its own! Please find it at Digital Library Proposal.
