[MCN-L] "cultural diplomacy"
I have been long interested in how web or other technology based collaborations are a form of "cultural diplomacy," which for the moment I will simply define as fostering better understandings among peoples based on the sharing of art and culture. For example, FRAME www.framemuseums.org fosters the sharing of information, exhibitions, and intellectual discourse through a consortium of 12 French and 12 American regional museums. I was most impressed and inspired by the work of our colleagues and friends at the National Palace Museum in Taiwan who through multi-lingual presentation and broad distribution of information about their art are really promoting and sharing their culture. http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/home.htm Our friends also talked about their involvement n "culturemondo" -- check out http://www.culturelink.org/conf/culturemondo/index.html Then there are non-museum projects such as the Digital Worlds Institute http://www.digitalworlds.ufl.edu/ which is using internet2 and music and other culture to bridge communities around the world. Anyway. i would appreciate and links or information about web or otherwise technology-based culture-based multi-national initiatives to bring the world's peoples together. many thanks Len Steinbach lensteinbach at gmail.com cell 917 821 6207
[MCN-L] Online backup/storage
Excellent point. In our case, we want S3 as a data mirror. I started to get into a discourse of backup issues, some of which should be solved with tape (and for which we maintain tape backups), and realized that it is far more complicated. For digital archival files that would never be altered (although they could be superceded by new versions), I increasingly see having multiple live RAID arrays as much saner than tape, and possible to rig up sanely so that it isn't dependent on humans to remember to maintain the tapeloader and get the tapes to the offsite storage location. In an ideal world, we would probably network with two or more other archives, each located in a different part of the continent (or globe) and each would nightly (or weekly) update copies of each other's files. S3 is one way to get that first non-local copy, safe from local disasters) with relatively minimal fuss, with the added advantage that it comes with a good SLA and is part of a very large, well-tended datastore. On Nov 13, 2007 3:59 PM, Morgan, Matt wrote: > As far as I can tell, S3 is powerful online storage, not literal online > backup. You could use it as a data mirror, but it's not like saving the > contents of the server to multiple tape sets created over the course of > time > and storing them in multiple secure places. > > With S3 (and other online storage), any automated backup process could > irreversibly overwrite the "backup" copy with corrupted/truncated/deleted > versions of the original; you wouldn't have last week's tape set (or last > night's differential) to fall back on. That is, there's no redundancy, so > you can reach unrecoverable situations too easily. > > There are online services that provide the equivalent to full tape backup > with offsite storage, like > > http://www.usdatatrust.com/service/how_it_works.asp > > (the "historical archive" part is the key difference between them and S3). > These online backup services are not at all cheap (to back up just ten of > Ari's AVIs would cost $1000+/year!), but are probably not more expensive > than doing the same thing yourself, in many cases (you wouldn't have to > buy > or store tapes ...). > > --Matt > > On 11/6/07 8:23 AM, "Ari Davidow" wrote: > > > There seems to be a burgeoning market in servers for consumer > purposes--ways > > to share video clips, photos, whatever. I think that places like > > rememble.com or mediamax seem to represent that paradigm. We have > looked, > > and continue to look, at setting up an alliance with other institutions > in > > geographically different areas from us for mutual file sharing. The only > > viable commercial service for needs like ours (hundreds of gigabytes or > even > > terabytes of files) seems to be Amazon's S3, which isn't cheap, but does > do > > a lot to ensure the integrity and security of data. Unfortunately, S3 > has a > > maximum file size of 5GB. With an hour of AVI clocking in around 13GB, > > that's a problem. > > > > As big a problem of backing up this data in a reasonably secure fashion > is, > > MOVING it is also difficult. It takes half an hour to move that 13GB > file > > around on our network. On our small business pipe to the internet? > > > > So, hoping to hear that others are exploring this area, or that they > have > > other solutions, > > ari > > > > On 11/5/07, Richard Urban wrote: > >> > >> Hi Ari, > >> > >> Sorry you won't make it to Chicago. I've been wondering about this > >> myself after a recent round of discussion on the RCAAM list - they > >> were debating the need for hard copy of collections records. Many of > >> the pro-paper set pointed to the easy loss of computer data during > >> disasters.I didn't ask, but I wondered where eveyone's back ups > >> were. > >> I think one of the things that came out of Katrina was that off-site > >> backups weren't enough and people needed to think regionally or > >> nationally. > >> > >> I do wonder about how these companies may be using the data stored on > >> their servers. I think there would be a number of concerns about > >> storing collections records and donor information with a third party, > >> even if they had clear data usage policies. > >> > >> The digital preservation project I worked on still relied on FedEx to > >> ship hard-drives back and forth as the fastest way to move large > >> files - even though we are at a major research university with many > >> fat tubes to the Interweb. > >> > >> Richard > >> rjurban at uiuc.edu > >> > >> > >> > >> On Nov 5, 2007, at 2:21 PM, Ari Davidow wrote: > >> > >>> So, we have all of these digital assets. They need to be backed up > >>> and they > >>> are huge. It looks as though online backup, using Amazon's S3 > >>> service, or a > >>> company such as MediaMax, is the way to go. It looks like S3 is really > >>> designed for companies that are doing more with their data than > >>> just parking > >>> it. That doesn't bother me, but it also looks like S3 is limited to > >>> file
[MCN-L] Online backup/storage
As far as I can tell, S3 is powerful online storage, not literal online backup. You could use it as a data mirror, but it's not like saving the contents of the server to multiple tape sets created over the course of time and storing them in multiple secure places. With S3 (and other online storage), any automated backup process could irreversibly overwrite the "backup" copy with corrupted/truncated/deleted versions of the original; you wouldn't have last week's tape set (or last night's differential) to fall back on. That is, there's no redundancy, so you can reach unrecoverable situations too easily. There are online services that provide the equivalent to full tape backup with offsite storage, like http://www.usdatatrust.com/service/how_it_works.asp (the "historical archive" part is the key difference between them and S3). These online backup services are not at all cheap (to back up just ten of Ari's AVIs would cost $1000+/year!), but are probably not more expensive than doing the same thing yourself, in many cases (you wouldn't have to buy or store tapes ...). --Matt On 11/6/07 8:23 AM, "Ari Davidow" wrote: > There seems to be a burgeoning market in servers for consumer purposes--ways > to share video clips, photos, whatever. I think that places like > rememble.com or mediamax seem to represent that paradigm. We have looked, > and continue to look, at setting up an alliance with other institutions in > geographically different areas from us for mutual file sharing. The only > viable commercial service for needs like ours (hundreds of gigabytes or even > terabytes of files) seems to be Amazon's S3, which isn't cheap, but does do > a lot to ensure the integrity and security of data. Unfortunately, S3 has a > maximum file size of 5GB. With an hour of AVI clocking in around 13GB, > that's a problem. > > As big a problem of backing up this data in a reasonably secure fashion is, > MOVING it is also difficult. It takes half an hour to move that 13GB file > around on our network. On our small business pipe to the internet? > > So, hoping to hear that others are exploring this area, or that they have > other solutions, > ari > > On 11/5/07, Richard Urban wrote: >> >> Hi Ari, >> >> Sorry you won't make it to Chicago. I've been wondering about this >> myself after a recent round of discussion on the RCAAM list - they >> were debating the need for hard copy of collections records. Many of >> the pro-paper set pointed to the easy loss of computer data during >> disasters.I didn't ask, but I wondered where eveyone's back ups >> were. >> I think one of the things that came out of Katrina was that off-site >> backups weren't enough and people needed to think regionally or >> nationally. >> >> I do wonder about how these companies may be using the data stored on >> their servers. I think there would be a number of concerns about >> storing collections records and donor information with a third party, >> even if they had clear data usage policies. >> >> The digital preservation project I worked on still relied on FedEx to >> ship hard-drives back and forth as the fastest way to move large >> files - even though we are at a major research university with many >> fat tubes to the Interweb. >> >> Richard >> rjurban at uiuc.edu >> >> >> >> On Nov 5, 2007, at 2:21 PM, Ari Davidow wrote: >> >>> So, we have all of these digital assets. They need to be backed up >>> and they >>> are huge. It looks as though online backup, using Amazon's S3 >>> service, or a >>> company such as MediaMax, is the way to go. It looks like S3 is really >>> designed for companies that are doing more with their data than >>> just parking >>> it. That doesn't bother me, but it also looks like S3 is limited to >>> files >>> <5GB. We have AVI files that are closer to 15GB. MediaMax may have >>> similar >>> limits. >>> >>> In a worst case, I'd simply make plans to back up the working MPEGs >>> (2-3GB >>> each), and do my best to ensure that nothing bad happens to the tape >>> originals of this video. But it occurs to me that people on this >>> list may >>> have more extensive experience. >>> >>> Who is using online storage? What works for you? What provider >>> helps you >>> sleep soundly (less unsoundly?) at night? What does it cost? Does >>> anyone >>> handle 15GB files? (We won't even talk about how long it would take to >>> upload each one of those) >>> >>> Thanks, >>> (Think of this as my way of provoking conversation in a year when I >>> can't >>> get to MCN ;-).) >>> ari >>> ___ >>> You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum >>> Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) >>> >>> To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu >>> >>> To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: >>> http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l >> >> ___ >> You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, t
[MCN-L] SAIAB Collection Use Project
This message appears in English and French. Good day My colleagues and I are embarking on a research project in which we aim to devise a system to monitor the uses (kinds of) and usage (degree of) of South Africa?s National Fish Collection. This collection is housed at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity in Grahamstown (collection abbreviation SAIAB), the former JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology (collection abbreviation RUSI ). The collection abbreviation changed from RUSI to SAIAB around 2001. The aim of this message is to pose the following questions to the EUROFISH-L community. We would be grateful for any information you may be able to furnish: 1) Do you know of any unpublished or published work on the specific subject of monitoring the kinds of uses and the degree of usage of (a) natural history collection/s? We are particularly interested in learning from previous studies that have developed techniques for tracking down citations of specimens in taxonomic and other literature (e.g. searching Google Scholar and other full-text literature databases for the collection abbreviation - ?SAIAB? in this case); 2) Have you used SAIAB or RUSI specimens in any way, either by a) visiting Grahamstown, or by b) borrowing physical specimens from SAIAB or by c) requesting photographic images or illustrations, or by d) requesting information such as digital specimen records, or by e) using our online databases at http://saiab.ru.ac.za/infoportal/ ? (please list a,b,c,d or e). We have, in our specimen collection database, good records of specimens that have been borrowed by researchers working in organisations around the world. Our aim with this question is to roughly gauge the ?level of recognition? of our collection among the members of EUROFISH-L at this time. We may develop a complete survey questionnaire if the response rate is adequate. Also, it may be that you have written an unpublished or published work citing our specimens even if you were not the person whose name is recorded directly against the borrowed specimen, and we?d like to include your name in our literature searches; 3) If you are willing to send us anything you have written, photographed or drawn, unpublished or published, hard copy or digital, we would be most grateful. Please address any digital contribution to the Librarian, Margie Shaw (m.shaw at ru.ac.za) or address postal items to: Collection Use Project Margie Shaw South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity Private Bag 1015 Grahamstown 6140 South Africa Other contact details: fax: +27 46 622 2403, tel: +27 46 603 5802 (Margie) Institute website: http://www.saiab.ru.ac.za/ SAIAB Information Portal: http://saiab.ru.ac.za/infoportal/ Thank you very much in advance for your time. Margie Shaw Librarian South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity ___ Bonjour Mes coll?gues et moi nous nous embarquons dans un projet de recherche dans lequel nous visons ? concevoir un syst?me pour surveiller les types et degr?s d?utilisations de la collection nationale sud-africaine d?ichtyologie. Cette collection est log?e au South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB - Institut Sud-Africain pour la Biodiversit? Aquatique) ? Grahamstown (abr?viation de la collection : SAIAB), anciennement connu comme JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology (abr?viation de la collection : RUSI). L'abr?viation de la collection a chang? de RUSI vers SAIAB aux environs de l'ann?e 2001. Le but de ce message est de poser les questions suivantes ? la communaut? du EUROFISH-L. Nous serions reconnaissants pour toutes les informations que vous pourrez nous fournir: 1) savez-vous d'un travail publi?, ou non, ayant comme sujet sp?cifique la surveillance des genres et degr?s d'utilisations de(s) collection(s) d'histoire naturelle ? Nous sommes particuli?rement int?ress?s ? apprendre, ? partir des ?tudes pr?c?dentes, les techniques d?velopp?es pour trouver les citations de sp?cimens dans la litt?rature taxonomique ou autre (p.ex. recherche de l'abr?viation de la collection ?SAIAB? via le Google Scholar et autres bases de donn?es) ; 2) avez-vous utilis? des sp?cimens du SAIAB ou RUSI de quelque fa?on que ce soit, a) en visitant Grahamstown ; ou b) en empruntant les sp?cimens au SAIAB ; ou c) en demandant des images photographiques ou des illustrations ; ou d) en demandant des informations tels que des registres de sp?cimens sous formats num?riques ; ou e) en utilisant notre base de donn?e en ligne ? l?adresse http://saiab.ru.ac.za/infoportal/ ? (s?il vous pla?t, ?num?rez a, b, c, d ou e). Nous avons, dans notre base de donn?es, de bons registres des sp?cimens qui ont ?t? emprunt?s par des chercheurs travaillant dans divers organismes internationaux. Notre but, avec cette question, est de mesurer approximativement l?actuel ?niveau de reconnaissance? de notre collection parmi les membres du EUROFISH-L. Nous pouvons d?velopper un q
