----------------
BitCurator User Forum 2017 Call for Papers
The BitCurator Consortium (BCC) is accepting proposals for the 2017 BitCurator User Forum, to be held April 27 - 28 at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. An international, community-led organization with over 25 member institutions, the BCC promotes and supports the BitCurator environment, an open source environment of digital forensics tools for use in libraries, archives, museums, and other educational applications.
Digital Forensics: The academic library and beyond
Over the last decade, cultural heritage institutions have applied techniques and software developed for criminal investigation and prosecution to their own work. These applications have repurposed automated processes in unintended ways, leading to new ways of engaging with digital materials. We want to hear your experiences and visions of how digital forensics affects your work.
We invite proposals for the following session formats:
· Presentations
· Panels
· Lightning Talks
· Birds-of-a-Feather discussions
· Day-long sessions that address real world problems or needs to make progress against
Other session formats are welcome, especially sessions that incorporate interactivity and audience participation.
We invite presentations that address any topic related to digital forensics. Topics of particular interest include:
· ethical concerns: how might donor relations and/or institutional risk tolerance affect forensic analysis
· records management: how can forensic analysis support records management activities
· donor and curatorial relations: challenges and opportunities when working with donors and/or curators
· process automation: use of scripting and related methods to support efficiency
· data management: intersections between research data and forensic analysis
· digital humanities: support for digital humanities work
· practical uses outside of archival workflows: researcher use, data mining, related special projects
Submission Information
Presentations
1 - 2 presenters, 45 - 60 minutes
Please submit an abstract of no more than 250 words.
This format is intended for one or two speakers presenting a single perspective, piece of research, or practical investigation. We encourage presentations to move beyond the case study and address pressing issues, best practices, opportunities for collaboration, visions, and expanded uses for digital forensics in libraries, archives, and museums.
Panels
3 - 5 presenters, 60 - 75 minutes
Please submit a 250-word (maximum) abstract. If submitting as an solo speaker, individual panelists may be matched by the BCC Program Committee based on complementarity of subjects or overarching themes.
We encourage panels to represent a range of professional backgrounds and experience. Proposals that include diverse perspectives (i.e., faculty, students, community members, archivists, and/or multiple institutions) are strongly encouraged. Alternative panel formats (pecha kucha, lightning talks followed by small group discussions, or others) that will facilitate dialogue and enlarge participation are also invited.
Birds-of-a-Feather Discussions
1 - 2 leaders, 60 - 75 minutes
Please submit an abstract of no more than 250 words.
Birds-of-a-Feather sessions are networking opportunities in which presenters will lead an informal discussion about a chosen topic for fellow practitioners. Birds-of-a-Feather discussions may be scheduled during lunch or as a concurrent session.
Lightning Talks
1 presenter, 5-12 minutes
Please submit an abstract of no more than 250 words.
Lightning talks are a great format for case studies, digital forensics “success stories” or “tragic tales,” and research updates.
Real world issues
We welcome the submission of issues you’re experiencing in your regular work with respect to digital forensics tools, whether it be desired functionality, automation that may not yet exist, or other workflow breakdowns. Filling out this form will help us create a longform, hands-on session that will tackle one or more identified needs.
Review
The BCC Program Committee will review and accept abstracts based on their relevance to the conference theme and audience; the clarity of description; and their potential for inspiring discussion, collaboration, and innovation.
Deadlines
Submission Deadline: January 15, 2017
Acceptance Notification: February 15, 2017
How to Submit
Eligibility & Requirements
We welcome proposals from archivists, librarians, digital forensics software and systems providers (vendors), scholars, students, and other individuals working with digital forensics on a regular basis, at both BCC member institutions and non-member institutions, large and small.
Presenters must register for and attend the conference. Presenters must also sign and submit a speaker agreement granting permission to the BCC to distribute their slides online with a CC-BY license. Some sessions will be recorded and distributed online, with permission from the presenters. These presenters will also be asked to sign and submit an agreement granting permission to the BCC to record presentations and distribute recordings online with a CC-BY license. Exceptions to the CC-BY license will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
BitCurator Consortium
The BitCurator Consortium (BCC) is an independent, community-led membership association that serves as the host and center of administrative, user and community support for the BitCurator environment. Its purpose is to support the curation of born-digital materials through the application of open-source digital forensics tools by institutions responsible for such materials.
The BCC is now welcoming institutions in all sectors and nations to join as General Members. Member benefits include:
· Access to the BCC help desk
· Prioritization in future feature and enhancement requests
· Dedicated educational offerings
· Voting rights
· Eligibility to serve on the BCC Executive Council and Committees
· Service opportunities
· Community engagement and networking
· Professional development and training
· Subscription to a dedicated BCC member mailing list
· Special rates for BCC events, including the annual BitCurator User Forum
The BCC exists to ensure that the BitCurator community continues to thrive in the years to come. Please consider joining this growing community of practice and international conversation around this emerging set of practices.
For more information, visit bitcuratorconsortium.org
--
Matthew Farrell
Digital Records Archivist
Duke University Archives
David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
919.684.6181