 |
 |
++++++++++++Apologies for cross posting++++++++++++++++ Bringing Digital Companies and the Cultural and Heritage Sector Together. MLA North East, in partnership with the regional development agency One NorthEast, has developed DiSCS-UK (Digital Services for the Cultural Sector). www.DiSCS-UK.info is a digital and IT knowledge resource - an interactive website which connects commercial suppliers of digital and IT services with museums, libraries, archives and cultural organisations. This unique, easy to use, wide-ranging online resource offers advice and guidance on how to select and work with suppliers through the Supplier Selector toolkit built in conjunction with UKOLN, through to the supplier directory which lists 80 companies offering 219 services. The site is updated daily with all the latest notices, terminology, downloads and training events. Training events have been held to support commercial companies in understanding and working with the cultural and heritage sector and so far 26 North East companies have taken part. The courses which have been developed include website accessibility, digitisation of collections, and the care and handling of objects. All courses were delivered by nationally recognised experts in their fields including Jon Gooday of AbilityNet who has worked with the BBC on "My Web, My Way" who deliverd the website accessibility training. 19 digital business's have been awarded MLA North East's Supplier Training Scheme (STS) quality marks - an accreditation recognised by the sector, many for more than one training course. Comments from heritage sector organisations working with commercial companies include: "There is no doubt we have gained a greater awareness of the skills and expertise available in the private sector as a result of using DiSCS-UK. We were surprised at how cost effective outsourcing elements of digitisation could be and we would definitely factor this into future digitisation projects." Project Officer, Gateshead Libraries "It's been a new way of working - using a contractor - and one which I would advocate, enabling us to deliver a small but important project, through an intensive and concentrated timescale." Service Manager, Stockton Council Museums Services We are now working to promote DiSCS-UK to all museums, libraries, and archives across the country. The supplier directory will be opened up in 2007 to allow registration of suppliers from outside the North East. For further information visit Digital Services for the Cultural Sector at the address below or email [log in to unmask] . Digital Services for the Cultural Sector: www.DiSCS-UK.info June Parker Project Officer Virtual Digitisation Centre MLA North East House of Recovery Bath Lane Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5SQ dd: 0191 269 7981 t 0191 2221661 f 0191 2614725 [log in to unmask] LEADERSHIP : ADVOCACY : STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT If you are visiting MLA North East offices for a meeting, training, or just a chat, please let us know beforehand if you have any access needs or requirements. www.MLANorthEast.org.uk www.DiSCS-UK.info www.thenortheast.com www.wellinever.info www.tomorrows-history.com __________________________________________________ ********************************************************************** This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. All incoming and outgoing e-mails are monitored for the presence of profanity and racist remarks, pornographic, sexually explicit or obscene material, and unsolicited content or spam. This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses. www.mimesweeper.com City of Newcastle website:- http://www.newcastle.gov.uk Newcastle Schools website:- http://www.newcastle-schools.org.uk Visit NewcastleGateshead:- http://www.visitnewcastle.co.uk Directgov:- http://www.directgov.gov.uk **********************************************************************