Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the Digital Commonwealth?
Massachusetts cultural institutions who already have digitized collections or who have collections they wish to digitize are welcome to join the Digital Commonwealth, as are group sponsoring organizations such as regional networks and consortiums. These group sponsoring organizations work with their members to provide training and support (e.g., NMRLS, Consortia, C/W MARS).
How can my institution participate in the Digital Commonwealth?
There are several ways to participate:
-
Harvested Site
- Shared Repository
- Linked Site
Read more to understand how to get started and the technical implementation and for information on the participation requirements.
What rights and responsibilities do Digital Commonwealth members hold?
Small and Larger Cultural Institutions
Rights
- Participate in the governance of Digital Commonwealth (attend Digital Commonwealth meetings, vote as an institution, run for office and serve on committees).
- Digital Commonwealth will harvest your metadata and allow it to be searched from our site, which requires compatibility with our harvester.
- Digital Commonwealth will provide a link to your web site from our site.
- Attend Digital Commonwealth events (non-governance) at member rates.
- Eligibility to subscribe to Digital Commonwealth repository service. (Requires an initial start-up fee and an ongoing additional repository service fee each year, in addition to regular Digital Commonwealth membership fee.)
- Receive telephone and electronic support from Digital Commonwealth contractors and volunteers.
Responsibilities
- Pay annual membership fee.
- Maintain compatibility with Digital Commonwealth standards
Consortia
Rights
- Participation in the governance of Digital Commonwealth (attend Digital Commonwealth meetings, vote as an institution, run for office and serve on committees).
- Digital Commonwealth will harvest your metadata and allow it to be searched from our site, which requires compatibility with our harvester.
- Digital Commonwealth will provide a link to your web site from our site.
- Attend Digital Commonwealth events (non-governance) at member rates.
- Receive telephone and electronic support from Digital Commonwealth contractors and volunteers.
Responsibilities
- Pay annual membership fee.
- Maintain compatibility with Digital Commonwealth standards.
How can I stay informed about, and participate in, the development of the Digital Commonwealth?
The Digital Commonwealth website (www.digitalcommonwealth.org) and Digital Commonwealth blog (digitalcommonwealth.org/blog) contains the latest information about the project.
How is the project governed?
Review the bylaws prepared by the Digital Commonwealth Board of Directors. If you are interested in participating on any of our committees, please contact us.
What does is cost to join Digital Commonwealth?
Please see list of membership fees here.
Where can I read overview information about digitization?
Please read the Contribute Collections web page.
