--- tags: drafts --- # FAQ for Student Activist Publishers [DRAFT] Questions to ask the archivist (from Project STAND) Start with a general question about how the archives works with activist donors and materials. Hopefully they will touch on the questions below, but if not, these are some suggested questions: ## Could you describe the collecting focus of your repository, and how my materials will compliment them? Disorientations.org is an informal archive of 100+ diso publications by student activists, threading counter-narratives across institutions. Your materials are a part of this history! ## Can I/we have a tour of your facility and meet other staff members? Github/code Cotributors page ## What student records/material do the archives currently collect? 100+ Disorientation publications from X universities in X states and X countries. From YYYY to YYYY. All publicly available online documents that we mirror, with links back to the original. ## What types of documentation is the archives interested in? What content and format (analog or digital)? Digital only, for now. If materials are available in a physical archive we would like to note that. ## How will copyright, privacy, and restrictions be handled for this collection, and how do those impact me/us as the creator/s of this material? Most Disos are distributed online ## What access will I have over the materials once I donate them to the archives? They will be hosted online and made publicly available. If you'd like a "maintainer" role, you can have access to the backend, to update metadata and upload new guides. ## What are your methods of preservation? ## How will your archive contextualize this material for researchers, and who decides how it will be arranged and described for potential users? [See Arrangement and Description section] Arranged by year and by institution Looking at other arrangements with more processing time May try to develop a taxonomy/vocabulary down the line Folksonomy Self-description Blog and social media Visualizations (seeing evolution of topics, vocabulary, etc. perhaps something like this: https://curricle.berkman.harvard.edu/) ## What is the expected timeline and method for making these materials available? Materials can be made available within a week, cataloging and contextualizing may take longer because this si a volunteer effort ## In what ways will researchers be able to access this collection? It will be made publicly available, and enriched with additional metadata, links, and context. We are also looking into actively promoting research on these materials through connections with archivists and research centers. --- If you are ready to move ahead with a donation, it is helpful to know what to expect. If you have not already discussed these with the archivist, you will need to address the following: ● Establish rules of ownership, permissions, privacy, and consent between activist partners and the archivist ● Examine, discuss, and sign a Deed of Gift, or a similar legal document ● Establish whether a single or an iterative donation works best for your needs ● Develop a plan for the transfer of both analog and digital materials# FAQ for Student Activist Publishers --- Questions to address with the donor ● Ask the contact person whether they have informed their group that the material will be archived and establish permissions to archive documentation that covers the activity of groups of people. ● Ask what is most important to them about the event/movement and what documentation might exist on those aspects. Consider sharing the selection of materials (appraisal) with the donor or community. ● Ask if the donors have any special requirements about how the materials can be utilized now and in the future. ● Discuss the various models and modes of ownership and intellectual property, and their implications. ● Create a plan outlining how you will make the materials available and visible to the communities which would benefit the most.