Launching an Interest Group
ABOUT
WHAT | Texas Digital Library Interest Groups provide opportunities for member and community contributions focused on particular affinities, professional roles, and projects.
WHEN | A TDL member(s) may propose a group at any time.
WHO | Anyone can be a member of a TDL interest group, whether they are working for a member institution or not. Only TDL members can lead groups.
WHERE | Since TDL members are distributed across a broad region, we use web conferencing to meet.
WHEN YOU’RE READY | Please read through the sections below then reach out to TDL when you are ready to get started.
POLICY & LOGISTICS
Groups must be TDL member-led. Groups may include non-members.
TDL asks that for-profit vendor organizations be excluded from groups.
Typically, member groups meet at a frequency and duration that they agree upon via web conference. An agenda is typically sent out to participants at least one week in advance by the chair or group leader.
Agenda items are determined by the group chair, vice-chair, group members, and TDL staff. Agendas can be flexible and in response to / anticipation of group needs.
Agendas can take the form of “lessons” / training, group projects, etc.
TDL highly recommends developing a group charter that includes a statement of purpose, governance, goals for the upcoming year, date of adoption, and schedule of review.
Typically the charter and goals are developed in collaboration with TDL staff and/or leadership, and are ratified by the group in the first or second meeting.
TDL will*:
* We at TDL are always excited to encourage professional development and networking among our members and community, and we enjoy facilitating member groups. That being said, we also know that your group may not need or want to take advantage of our facilitation capabilities. Think of the following list as TDL “can” or “will,” depending on the needs of your group and capacity of our staff.
TDL staff member will act as a liaison / point of contact for your group.
This staff member will report out to TDL staff and leadership about your group’s activities and field requests between your group and our staff.
Schedule the web conference link for meetings using TDL’s preferred virtual platform.
Develop a graphic for the group if needed.
Set up a landing page on tdl.org and add to our Member Groups page.
Set up a space in Confluence if needed, and grant group members edit/publish access.
Set up a shared folder in TDL’s Google Drive to facilitate collaboration (documents, forms/surveys, spreadsheets, etc.).
Create and manage a listserv for the group.
Create an event(s) on our events calendar as needed.
Communicate with group (reminders, follow up links, etc.) as needed.
Promote group in marketing emails, social media, and via our monthly forum.
Publish your slides and other materials in our DSpace repository.
Assist with developing agendas until the group is well-established.
Set up a registration form for the group.
Collaborator(s) will:
Coordinate with TDL staff liaison and/or group members to develop meeting topics, curate presenters, set objectives, and schedule meetings.
Develop or obtain promotional language and images for the group.
Share contact information of group members with TDL.
Develop / coordinate working groups if needed.
Encouraged:
TOOLS
Collaboration:
Emails and calendar invitations
Meeting(s): web or phone conferences as needed
Shared documents in Google Drive
Wiki: Confluence
Logistics:
Promotional channels:
TDL website (will create landing page for group and add to our Member Groups page)
TDL member forums
TDL email (listservs, Mail Chimp)
TDL social media
Partner / collaborator / member promotional channels
EXAMPLES
Example members-only user group TDL OJS Users Group
Example members + community hybrid group TDL Imaging Group
TDR SC charter: https://texasdigitallibrary.atlassian.net/l/cp/C2EDSw0Y
TDL OJS User Group charter: https://texasdigitallibrary.atlassian.net/l/cp/DAfJTcpX
TDL DSpace User Group charter: https://texasdigitallibrary.atlassian.net/l/cp/ECaP85Ji
Email info@tdl.org when you are ready to get started.