Rogan and all, While it may lack some of the conviviality, having an online-focused Hack-A-Way would open it up to more participants which could be a great benefit.
I know the in-person meetings have tried to have an online component, but it sometimes seemed an afterthought, difficult to hear and follow. We have not sent staff to the Hack-A-Ways but have people very interested in the discussions and the work in progress. An online version could give them more of a seat at the table. The online Hack-A-Way will benefit from our experience with the online conference this spring and we can reevaluate when and if life returns to normal. Ron On Tue, May 5, 2020 at 2:15 PM Rogan Hamby <[email protected]> wrote: > As many know, we have had two institutions express interest in hosting the > 2020 Hack-A-Way. I was discussing the logistics with both early this year > when the COVID-19 situation escalated and everything went on pause. I've > been waiting a while to write this email hoping that as May arrived the > future would be clear and I'd be able to say we would still go ahead with > plans for the 2020 Hack-A-Way. It's about as clear as mud on a foggy day. > At this point in time, I can not ask anyone to commit to the resources > necessary to ensure the hosting of an event in October. > > It is possible that by October the situation will be remarkably better. I > certainly hope so. However, there are some pretty dire forecasts for the > current infection vectors as well as the possibility of another outbreak in > the Fall ... just in time for the Hack-A-Way. I also suspect that many of > us are working for institutions that will be evaluating their travel rules > in light of all these variables and that may complicate attendance for > many. Waiting until June or July for a decision, aside from the difficulty > for a host, also adds a time based set of complications for attendees in > regards to budget request cycles. > > So, to get to the point (finally) my inclination unless I hear an uproar > of "no, we can definitely make it!" is to cancel the in-person Hack-A-Way > this year. > > I am open to investigating online options. They are less than ideal and > the Hack-A-Way was intended to avoid those same barriers that an online > event causes but sometimes we just have to keep calm and Evergreen on. I > will investigate options for collaboration software such as GoTo Meeting or > Zoom that may allow for both the whole group to meet and break out into > smaller interest groups. This could also be useful to supplement the > future in-person events. > > So, I welcome feedback, including from those who think we may have a means > to make this happen. But, at this point I am going to proceed with > creating plans to take things online this year and will be reaching out to > others in the next few months both for feedback and with a few > supplications for assistance. > > Hope everyone is well, > > Rogan Hamby, MLIS > > Data and Project Analyst > > Equinox Open Library Initiative > > phone: 1-877-OPEN-ILS (673-6457) > > email: [email protected] > web: http://EquinoxInitiative.org > -- Ronald A. Gagnon Executive Director North Of Boston Library Exchange (NOBLE) Danvers, Massachusetts 01923 978-777-8844 www.noblenet.org
