Reimagining Discovery DRAFT

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.

• Enhance user experience 
• Improve discovery and accessibility of special and archival collections and all types of digital collections including but not limited to image, text, audio, video, born digital, immersive (3d, XR, VR, MR), GIS, etc.
• Integrate distinct digital collections discovery platforms, including developing a new one
• Investigate and use AI-powered tools to enhance user experience and metadata

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

This projects aligns with FY 24 HL Goals:

• Diversify and expand access to knowledge

• Maximize the breadth of tangible and digital collections across Harvard and peer institutions, for the benefit of all partners

• Increase our focus on acquiring, accessing, and creating digital content that is accessible to all, as open as possible, and permits creative uses of collections as data 

• Invest in open access infrastructure and services that support equitable, sustainable models for scholarly communication and open knowledge

Vision

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

In Scope

• Replace HOLLIS for Images and Harvard Digital Collections
• Reimagine metadata pipeline

Out of Scope

Deliverables and Work Products

Key Tasks and Outcomes 

Project Tracker Coming Soon!

Definition of Done

Stakeholders

The Library Stakeholders are acting as an extended project team, meeting weekly to help inform and prioritize the work.

Technical Project Team

Estimated Schedule

Note: Project is managed by using the Scrum framework and these phases/milestones will be adjusted. Below is a tentative plan for Year 1 of project.

Assumptions, Constraints, Dependencies, and Risks

Project Assumptions

• • Stakeholders either have or have identified the appropriate subject matter experts to advise on prioritization of work and other project matters
  • Stakeholders will have made available the time required to participate in project activities and to complete tasks as requested
  • Project sponsor and other stakeholders are empowered to make the decision required for the project to be a success
  • Project sponsor will provide written approval to move forward with system development when requested as part of incremental/iterative system demonstrations

Project Constraints

• • Scope - Flexible
  • Time -  Fixed 3 year project to Reimagine Discovery
  • Cost - Fixed

Project Dependencies

Project Risks

Acceptance

Accepted by: 

Prepared by: Carolyn Caizzi

Effective Date: August 1 2024