At a Glance

Full Schedule (PDF)

Wednesday, March 12

Thursday, March 13

Friday, March 14

Saturday, March 15

Sunday, March 16

Wednesday, March 12

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Registration Desk open

8:30-10:30 am

IPR Plenary Session: Image Rights:  Perspectives from Copyright Owners

While copyright is a frequent and important topic of discussion for VRA members, we may not always have the opportunity to hear the perspective of copyright owners with respect to these issues. The VRA IP Committee proposes to sponsor a session in which a panel of representatives from artists\' estates and other copyright owners would express their views on the use of copyrighted works and images for educational and scholarly purposes, what fair use means to them (particularly in the online environment), and other concerns and thoughts they might have about the use of

images of their works in the digital environment.  The speakers will also touch on other issues of importance, such as the integrity and quality of images, and having proper attributions associated with the works. One theme that will be explored through this discussion is the possibility of broader collaboration between educational users and copyright owners of images, and whether - in the aftermath of CONFU - there is any possibility for thinking afresh about the use of copyrighted images in the educational context.

11:00 am-5:00 pm

VRAffle

11:00 am-12:30 pm

Session 1: Free Association: Social Tagging in Online Collections

Through websites like flickr and del.icio.us, users have become empowered by the ability to personalize or “tag” data associated with images and websites. As social tagging becomes increasingly prevalent in the online environment, users will begin to expect this service in our image databases. What are the advantages of allowing users to take control and tag images? What type of review process is needed to weed out inappropriate terms? This panel will explore how social tagging projects function in various environments (museum, academic library, and visual resource collection) and examine how image tagging can enhance usability in online collections. Organizers: Meghan Musolff, University of Michigan & Adam Lauder, University of Windsor

11 am-12:30 pm

Session 2: Salt Cellars, Oliphants, and Gems: Preserving Legacy Image Collections

Many visual resources curators are faced with the challenging task of serving as guardians of legacy image collections. Often these collections were built by individual faculty members over the course of decades or more. They may vary in size from hundreds of 35mm slides to thousands of digital images. These collections may visually represent significant contributions to the study of art history, anthropology, gemology, or other field. But tackling legacy collections can be quite tricky. Above and beyond scanning, storing, and access issues, the VR curator may have to deal with spotty, incomplete cataloging; slides in varying degrees of decline; basic collection organization that is non-existent or unfathomable; data notebooks in disarray; and documentation that is often hand-written or in a foreign language. The curator must also ask how—or whether-- the legacy images will fit into an overall collection development plan. These are just a few of the challenges facing a legacy collection manager. Today’s session will look at several successful legacy collections and the important partnerships that have been forged between the collection’s creator and the visual resources manager charged with maintaining the collection. It is my hope that today’s conversation will reveal some of the inherent challenges, suggest some practical tips and successful tactics, and allow us to return to our individual workplaces better equipped to deal with potential image legacy issues.

12:30-2 pm

Birds-of-a-Feather Network Luncheon

Meeting: Nominating Committee

Meeting: Archives Task Force

Meeting: Digital Initiatives Advisory Group Committee

Ask the Experts

Teaching Teachers ARTstor and MDID
Expert: Megan Batty, Middlebury College

I have conducted intensive one-on-one training sessions with faculty (art history and other disciplines) and taught group workshops as well.  Adapting my training to the different learning styles of the faculty, I have enjoyed some success breaking down barriers of those who are reluctant or technology-resistant.  I would be happy to share my insights and strategies with others.
Note: ‘Ask the Experts’ is by prior reservation only, to reserve a slot e-mail Marcia Focht at mfocht@binghamton.edu. 

Digital Imaging Best Practices
Expert: Howard Brainen, Two Cat Digital 

Digital imaging, scanning, digital photography, workflow optimization, color management, people management: I have over 30 years experience creating and managing productive workflows in the photography field. I am passionate about enhancing human potential through the innovative use of technology.
Note: ‘Ask the Experts’ is by prior reservation only, to reserve a slot e-mail Marcia Focht at mfocht@binghamton.edu. 

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Tour #1 – A Tour into San Diego History

2:00 pm-6:00 pm

Workshop 1: Subject Access to Visual Materials

In this workshop, you will have an opportunity to listen to three distinguished speakers who will cover the tools you will need to provide subject access to visual materials; the methodology you will use to analyze visual materials; and the theory of image retrieval you need to know when providing access to these materials for a diverse group of users.  The speakers include:
Patricia Harpring, Managing Editor, Getty Vocabulary Program, and co-editor of Cataloging Cultural Objects: A Guide to Describing Cultural Works and Their Images, who will talk about the tools for subject indexing - how to use controlled vocabularies to build your own authorities and using authorities as search assistants and as knowledge bases.
Sara Shatford Layne, Principle Cataloger, Cataloging and Metadata Center, UCLA, Professor, UCLA Information Studies Program, and author of numerous articles on subject analysis including, Analyzing the Subject of a Picture: A Theoretical Approach, who will talk about the methodology of subject analysis – how to do it from the cataloger’s perspective.
Corrine Jörgensen, Associate Dean for Academics and Research, Florida State University School of Library and Information Studies, and author of Image Retrieval: Theory and Research, who will talk about image retrieval from the users’ perspective.  As collections begin to find their way into federated databases, the consumers of these records is different, unknown, and sometimes not expert, at least not in the field of art history.  How do they search? Is it time to begin thinking in terms of both generic as well as highly specific terminology directed at a more diverse user group?
In the second part of the workshop, you will have an opportunity to apply what you have learned using selected examples and recently developed workbook exercises based on CCO, Chapter 6, Subject, and CCO Part III, Authorities.  Workshop attendees will have a chance to discuss their exercise choices and to engage all of the speakers in an open discussion.

2:00 pm-3:30 pm

Madison Digital Image Database (MDID) Special Users Group

The Madison Digital Image Database (MDID) is a freely distributed, open source software application developed at James Madison University to facilitate teaching with digital images online and in the classroom. This session will bring MDID users, and potential users, together to share their experiences and to ask questions. Members of the MDID development team will demonstrate new features added in 2007, talk about ongoing development, share upcoming enhancements and give a progress report on the API development project, which is supported by an IMLS grant. Time will be allotted for general questions from the attendees. This session will be followed by an “Ask the Experts” session where attendees can receive small group or one-on-one assistance from the MDID team.

3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Ask the MDID Experts

This would provide a "drop-in" opportunity for anyone who has MDID questions to have access to the System Engineers to learn about the open source software, make suggestions for further development, or receive technical and/or curatorial help.

4:30 pm - 6:00pm

Special User Group 2: VRA Digital Matchmaking Group

An open and ongoing forum for brainstorming ideas about creating a digital matchmaking commons, discussing progress to date, and further advancing initiatives such as building a directory of freely accessible image collections and finding communication areas for sharing images, metadata, and associated information about such collaborative activities

5 pm – 6 pm

SEI Reunion at “The Bar”, Westin San Diego

6-7:30 pm

Chapter Meetings

Southeast Chapter

Southern California

Mid-Atlantic Chapter

Midwestern Chapter

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