Seed Saving Digital Library

IST 676 Kara Moran Kugelmeyer

What is Seed Saving?• Seed Saving is the practice of saving seeds (in all forms, seeds, tubers, nuts, etc.) from vegetables, grains, herbs, and flowers, so that you can reuse these seeds for future crops/seasons.• Seed Saving promotes genetic diversity and crop sustainability. • Did you know why seed saving and genetic diversity are important? “Seventy-five percent of all the seeds ever used in agriculture are estimated to have become extinct by 1990. Ninety five percent are expected to be extinct by the year 2000. We are depleting our genetic base by overdependence on too few highly specialized varieties.” Jeavons (1995)

SSDL Concept:• The concept for a digital library on Seed Saving (SSDL) originated in part because there is no single and comprehensive content source or digital repository on Seed Saving.• Providing a single source for a wide variety of information on Seed Saving will not only support this important ecological practice, but also help promote the concept.• The SSDL will also support a growing public library service as well, seed sharing.

Goals:The goals of the SSDL project are as follows:Informational•To create a single point of access for relevant and authoritative information on Seed Saving

Support•To support the overall Seed Saving mission, including public libraries vision as well

Preservation•To help preserve information and resources on Seed Saving

Unite•To bring together Seed Savers across the nation and globe

SSDL Objectives:•Content aggregation and curation•Digitization of content•Creation of robust metadata•Interface that is easy to use and understand•Fair treatment of intellectual property•Dissemination/Outreach for SSDL

Users:•The SSDL will provide information for those interested in Seed Saving such as:•Gardeners•Environmentalists•Botanists•Companies that produce and sell heirloom seeds•Commercial growers• Seed Saving Organizations •Librarians•Students•Researchers

Users Needs Assessments:•Creating a service that meets the needs of its users is a foundational goal for the SSDL project and key to its long-term sustainability as a viable resource. •To help ensure that user needs are identified and met the SSDL team will undertake the following:

•Surveys to help assess user needs for: content, design features and functions.

•Creation of user profiles

•Interviews with power users.•Guide content creation and acquisition, core functionality and ensure that key navigational and search features and functionality have been identified.

•Usability and design feedback testing.

Content:•The SSDL will offer content on:• About Seed Saving• History•Practice(s)•Practitioners

• Saving Seeds•Common, scientific name of seed(s)•Descriptions of the seed•How to grow, harvest and save them

•Seed Saving Organizations• Who• Where• Why

Content Sources:•The SSDL will get content from:•Seed Saving Organizations•Libraries•Seed Savers•Publishers

•Books•Journals •Magazines•Articles•Blogs

•News Organizations

Content Formats:•The SSDL will offer content in variety of formats•Text•PDF•Video•Audio•Images: jpeg, gif, tiff, etc.

SSDL Technology:•Because the SSDL will be a very small resource compared to many digital libraries and the staff will be limited the best recommendation of the SSDL is to license and use digital library cloud hosted software.

• Examples like Greenstone and Veridian, or partnering with a library or library technology provider that already has a stable digital library platform, who would be willing to “rent” space for the SSDL

•Basic features and functionality that will need to be part of the software includes:

•Webpage creation/modification•Software for imbedded reader•Robust search/indexing features•Robust metadata features•Ability to add, delete and modify content•Security/Access•Analytics feature to track usage•Sophistication of software – will it be improved upon as time goes on, stay abreast of current technological advancements in digital libraries•Interoperablity

SSDL Project Plan• The total project timeline is 1 year, broken down into three phases:Planning – 3 Months

Select vendor for software and hosting - 1 MonthContent identification and acquisition – 3 MonthsGathering User Feedback – 3 MonthsCreating Project Plan – 3 MonthsOutreach and Marketing Plan Creation – 3 months

Development – 6 Months

Content digitization – 5 monthsUploading content, metadata mapping and tagging – 6 monthsUser interface and design – 4 monthsLaunch of marketing and outreach

Pre-Launch– 3 Months

Testing/QA in house and user testing– 1 monthOngoing marketing Metadata refinement – 1 monthUser design modifications - 1 month (happens after testing and metatdata refinement)Beta Softlaunch – one month after user design modifications

SSDL Budget Pre-Launch•Digital Library License Fee - $10,000•Equipment for digitization - $10,000•Software for digitizing - $5,000•Staffing - $25,000•Content Acquisition - $10,000•Marketing - $10,000

Post-Launch•Annual Staff - $15,000 •Annual License Fee - $7,500•Annual Content Fees - $5,000•Annual Marketing $10,000

SSDL Outreach/Marketing Plan•Creating value proposition piece for SSDL•Identification and marketing to sister-groups/organizations – building a network with organizations dedicated to Seed Saving is essential to spreading the word and getting new content.

•Creating both an elevator speech and marketing materials that outline the who, what, whys of the site and tell about the value proposition of the site are essential. Also working with them to market the site to their users. •These sister organizations include but are not limited to: Seed Saving organizations, libraries, higher-education institutions that have horticultural and agricultural divisions, seed-companies. •Means to contact them would include:

•Emails/Letters•Phone calls•Meetings

•Marketing direct to usersSearch engine marketingFace Book

SSDL Sustainability Plan• Offer a unique and authoritative source of information on Seed Saving• Offer users a site that is intuitive and fun to use• Use current and flexible technologies• Create a flexible staffing model to control costs• Fund project through multiple sources•Continuous and “aggressive” outreach and marketing

Questions?