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Notes

First meeting in the new format. David would like feedback after the meeting about how it went.

Reminder of report which was sent out in advance: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TGFv57RRHZFVHVlKvfel2wPRHNPyRm9nGm7-D6Es3hs


Christine DiBella, Program Manager for ArchivesSpace - giving presentation on ArchivesSpace membership program 

Overview of ArchivesSpace

Archival management information application. Can work with repositories. Can create metadata. Record actions taken on archival materials. Meets need that has few vendor solutions. Active user community. Governance, spec writing, tech, peer support, financial support.

ArchivesSpace is based off of Archivists' Toolkit and Archon open source - didn't have membership, mostly funders and parent institutions to start. ArchivesSpace required to demonstrate financial sustainability from the start.

Application free to download and use. Membership – 5 levels, institutional only. $300 - $7500. Levels tied to institutional capacity - such as JSTOR or Artstor class and number of FTE. All members get access to same benefits. Benefits include - governance participation, listservs, events, tech support in deploying ArchivesSpace. Different benefits appeal to the spectrum of people using ArchivesSpace.

Launched in 2013 - initial membership drive for charter members, and then continued to regular membership. Charter members recruited directly by leadership and public call to archives community. Charter included R1s, liberal arts, museums, non profits - and they continue to have a full spectrum of kinds of members. Membership has grown every year over past 7 years, at 413 members currently. Heavy on US membership, but 2 dozen countries outside US included. Also institutions who use ArchivesSpace without a membership. 95% annual revenue from membership and covers operating expenses.

Lessons Learned

Do research to figure out what community will accept. Archivists Toolkit had worked with Ithaka and they did significant research. 

Don't undervalue membership to get people in the door - maintaining and improving "free" open source software has significant costs.

Not everyone wants to be a member. A model that gives those who are genuinely interested an option to show commitment is important. Having many small contributors sends a strong message that ArchivesSpace is for everyone. Applying member model consistently is important.

Cultivating members - get leadership involved in beginning - was really successful in charter. Identify influencer institutions - from the spectrum of institutions - helpful strategy. Tie membership drive to a significant milestone. 

Retaining members - keep members that doesn't require a ton of resources beyond what you do to run program. Invoice a renewal rather than request it. Get leaders involved when institution of certain status/size seems shaky about continuing. 

Showing value of membership - demo the value to wider community. Connect membership to what is possible because of members. Make is clear the distinction between member and non-member, but don't make people feel bad if not members (want non-members to aspire to membership).

Action Items