Sherman Centre for Digital Scholarship (Strategic Initiative)

Status Update January 2012

Project Objectives

• Create a state-of-the-art facility to support interdisciplinary research into digital scholarship.  
•  Achieve designation as a McMaster Research Centre.  
•  Identify an Academic Director.  
•  Hold an official Centre launch.  
•  Host a regional DH event.

Project Linked to the Following Strategic Initiative

• #1:   Integrate the Library into the University's Teaching, Learning and Research Mission
• #3:   Create World-Class Teaching and Learning Spaces

Project Lead:

• Academic Director:  Dr. S. LaPointe
• Administrative Director:  Dale Askey

Project Team:

• John Fink
• Other members TBD

 Project Scope (work the project will include and not include)

Project Risks (circumstances or events outside the project team's control that will have a high adverse impact on the project if they occur)

•  Under use (will take time to build interest in the Centre)
• Funding (need a sustainable funding model to grow the Centre)

Obstacles / Constraints (known constraints imposed by environment, management, etc.)

•   Finalizing staffing model

Critical Milestones / Achievements                                      Proposed Dates

• Create virtual presence
• Achieve official designation as "Centre"
• Open the facility (January 2012)
• Appoint Academic Director

Preliminary Assessment Plan (what quantitative or qualitative tools will you use to determine if you are successful?)

•  Traffic measures (e.g., number of workstations in use)
•  Satisfaction measures?
• Outcome measures (# of grants)

 Project Status Update May 1, 2011