STAFFING AND TRAINING
Issues
of Importance
Assembling a staff of dedicated and motivated people to work on the digitization
project will be one of the most difficult tasks for the project manager.
In small organizations each staff person will have to take on many roles. Use of student and volunteer help will need to be considered. Training in the technical and procedural task of a digital project can be accomplished far more easily than finding people who are visually literate and enthusiastic about discovering the process for successful digital projects. Look for people who appreciate both sides of the task, a "technical/humanist." Training of staff will be a key element of a successful digital projec should occur before the job begins.
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Options to consider:
Staffing role to be considered:
The role of Project Manager will include all of these jobs
Archival role: Promotion of archival considerations has merit, especially when the value of the collections is apparent, and necessary for their long-term disposition.
Contract negotiator:
If the digitization effort will use vendor services, then contracts will be needed. Maintenance of these contracts will become an administrative function.Budget and Funding administrator:
Management of federal or state grant funds will be needed. This includes oversight of funded projects, and promotion of grants or gifts.Marketing and Promotion
It is not enough to create a collection and expect the public to discover it on their own. Promotion of the collection must happen. This will draw resources away from other functions or require outsourcing it to contractors.Working with stakeholders:
Significant strength comes from a robust and active stakeholder group. For collaborative projects a steering committee of stakeholders will be essential. They bring rich diversity of opinion and creativity. Stakeholders assist with program promotion and political influence.
Other staff roles:
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