Update! RRN v0.6.1

The latest version of the RRN (v0.6.1) is now live on the RRN Production Site. Head over to see what's new!

Search for other users and edit your own User Profile pages

• 'Edit Profile' lets you add a brief biography, upload a photo, and/or add files to your public profile
  
• Search User Profiles to find out more about other researchers on the RRN

It is now faster and easier than ever to Find items on the RRN

• Searches are faster than ever
  
• Use the new Boolean search feature for improved precision

We are aware of and working on a few bugs in the new version. Please let us know if you notice anything strange happening. You can send feedback to feedback@rrnpilot.org.

Enjoy the site!

Joanne

Final Phase RRN Development

I'd like to blog a little bit about Nick and my plans for the last phase of development before the project launch in March 2010.

Currently, we are in the middle of finishing the v0.7 release of the RRN. It will add new features such as boolean search, and an improved profile page which allows users to describe themselves, and a faster search.

Next up, we're hoping to have a meeting with Joanne and the Community Liasons in the coming weeks to determine what shape User Submitted Information and the Home Page will take in the final version. I'm also hopeful we can use that meeting to make sure everyone is focused on the launch date and that as little as possible gets forgotten about until just before launch.

Our other priority is to work with the Cross-Systems Mapping group to tweak the Item Record page and the mapping process to be more transparent and give the Partner Institutions a greater sense of confidence that their data is being represented fully and accurately. I'm hoping to participate in a Cross-Systems Mapping phone conference in the next two weeks where we develop our plan.

I'm sure that this doesn't cover all of the development that will happen before launch. I predict many sleepless nights for Nick and me, but hopefully this post will let people know what our current priorities are (and correct them if they need to be).

Partner Institution Conference

For a few days last month, members of the RRN development community (including RRN Co-developers, RRN staff, community liaison researchers (CLRs), and representatives from the Partner Institutions) met face to face at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

The workshop was well-attended with over thirty delegates from across the globe. The weekend was kicked off with a reception on Friday night. The CLRs set the keynote with engaging presentations on Saturday morning. From there, conversation continued to flow, and frequently spilled into the breaks over plentiful food. By Sunday afternoon, the delegates parted ways, with renewed enthusiasm for this exciting project.

CLRs visit the recently-installed Salish Baskets in the Ways of Knowing Gallery

In the days before the workshop, the CLRs had been busy preparing their presentations and working through some ongoing issues in their pre-workshop meeting at the Museum of Anthropology. During this meeting, the CLRs had the opportunity to see the renovated Ways of Knowing Gallery (currently being installed) and visit the new storage areas in MOA's basement.

Community Liaisons visit the new storage areas with MOA staff

It has been an exciting and busy month here at the RRN as we head into the last stretch of time before the RRN's public launch in March of 2010. We look forward to seeing where the next months will take us!

Best wishes,

Joanne