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Reimagining Discovery DRAFT charter

Project Goals:

Transforming how researchers, students, and the global community access and explore Harvard's extensive collections, while making all kinds of information easily discoverable and accessible.

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Problem and Value Statements

Problem Statement

Since its founding, Harvard Library has been a guardian of the University’s memory and a gateway to the world's knowledge. We currently host an array of discovery systems that use different design approaches, organizational priorities, and technology standards. Scholars and the public expect to be able to find trustworthy information and discover resources easily regardless of the system that is managing and providing access to it.

Solution Business Value

By enabling rich cross-collection search, this project will offer end users intuitive, contextual discovery of special collections, archives and digital collections, through a mix of conversational interfaces, browsing that emphasizes the visual nature of materials when appropriate, and recommendations for similar or related resources, all informed by ongoing user research.

Alignment with Harvard Library Multi-Year Goals and Objectives

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Phase

Phase Start

Phase End

Completion Milestone

1

June 2024

September 2024

Natural language discovery platform for both digitized and physical special and archival collections with generative AI features is tested by selected end users.
2

September 2024

December 2024Platform is adjusted based on feedback and scaled for a public soft launch. Design process for digitized collections component is completed.
3




Assumptions, Constraints, Dependencies, and Risks

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