This is the October 2016 edition of the Fedora Newsletter. This newsletter summarizes the most significant activities within the Fedora community over the last month.
Fedora Camp in NYC
We are pleased to announce that Fedora Camp in NYC [1], hosted by Columbia University Libraries, will be offered at Columbia University’s Butler Library in New York City November 28-30, 2016. Training will begin with the basics and build toward more advanced concepts–no prior Fedora 4 experience is required. Participants can expect to come away with a deep dive Fedora 4 learning experience coupled with multiple opportunities for applying hands-on techniques working with experienced trainers and Fedora gurus.
Register today [2] and join us in New York!
Call for Action
Fedora is designed, built, used, and supported by the community. An easy and important way that you can contribute to the effort is by helping resolve outstanding bugs. If you have an interest in gaining a better understanding of the Fedora code base, or a specific interest in any of these bugs [3], please add a comment to a ticket and we can work together to move your interest forward.
Membership
Fedora is funded entirely through the contributions of DuraSpace members that allocate their annual funding to Fedora. The 2016 membership campaign has so far raised $522,250 from 67 members. The annual goal this year is $580,000, so we are over 90% of the way there. We will continue to coordinate with members of the Fedora Leadership Group to expand the pool of DuraSpace members supporting the Fedora project and build a sustainable funding base for the future. If your institution is not yet a member of DuraSpace in support of Fedora, please join us [4]!
Software development
Standards
Fedora API Specification
The Fedora community is working to establish a clearly defined specification for the core Fedora services [8]. This specification will detail the exact services and interactions required for a server implementation to be verified as "doing Fedora".
You are invited to comment on and contribute to the draft specifications [9].
Community-driven Activity
Import/Export Tooling
API Extension Architecture
The API-X group has completed the review process for the non-developer overview document [12], which will be moved to the main design page [13] on the Fedora wiki. The technical design documents have now been moved to GitHub [14].
If you are interested in the API Extension Architecture, please join the discussion on the fedora-community mailing list [15] and attend the next meeting.
Performance and Scalability
The Performance and Scalability group met on August 15 [16] to review a summary of all the tests that have been performed so far and note any tests that should be re-run using different parameters. Tests will be re-run in order to maximize the number of resources created and test the current upper-limits of Fedora.
If you are interested in Performance and Scalability, please join the discussion on the fedora-community mailing list [17] and attend the next meeting [18] on September 26.
Conferences and events
Upcoming Events
Hydra Connect
Hydra Connect [23] will take place October 3-6 in Boston, MA. It is a chance for Hydra Project participants to gather in one place at one time, with an emphasis on synchronizing efforts, technical development, plans, and community links. The meeting program is aimed at existing users, managers and developers and at new folks who may be just "kicking the tires" on Hydra and who want to know more. Tickets [24] for the event can be purchased online.
iPRES
The 13th International Conference on Digital Preservation (iPRES) [25] will take place in Bern, Switzerland from October 3-6, 2016. iPRES is the longest standing digital preservation conference in the world. This important event brings together key theorists, researchers and practitioners to explore the latest trends, innovations, policies and practices in digital preservation. An introductory Fedora 4 tutorial [26] will be offered on October 6, and a Fedora User Group Meeting [27] will take place on October 7. Please register in advance for the tutorial and user group meeting.
Islandora Camp Missouri
Islandora Camp [28] will be visiting Kansas City, MO this Fall. October 12 - 14. The camp will be held at the University of Missouri-Kansas City for three days and will include Islandora sessions, workshops, and community presentations. Register online [29] to attend the camp.
DLF
The 2016 DLF Forum [30] will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, November 7-9, 2016. Digital Preservation 2016 [31] will be held in conjunction with the Forum, from November 9-10. An Introduction to Fedora 4 workshop [32] will be offered on November 8, along with a project update [33] on November 7.
Previous Events
TPDL
The 20th International Conference on Theory and Practice of Digital Libraries [19] took place in Hannover, Germany September 5-9. TPDL constitutes a leading scientific forum on digital libraries that brings together researchers, developers, content providers and users in the field of digital libraries. The conference featured an introductory, hands-on tutorial on Fedora 4 [20] delivered by David Wilcox, the Fedora Product Manager.
DC Area Fedora User Group Meeting
The DC Area Fedora User Group Meeting [21] took place on September 22-23 at the USDA National Agricultural Library.
References
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