UW-CALMA-datarescue/how-to-start

description
Step-by-step instructions

⭐ How To Start

Hello & welcome!

Thank you for volunteering your time for this year’s Data Rescue (2025)! We appreciate your energy, enthusiasm, or whatever motivator brought you here. Now that you’ve read through the purpose, goals, and background of past and present data Rescues, we can get you started on contributing.

Whether you are just now thinking about responding to current data risks and threats or you are involved in long term data preservation work, the possibilities for digital archival preservation abound. No matter your skill set, field of expertise, or interests, there is a digital archiving task for you!

Now that you’ve reviewed the general expectations and background information, we ask all volunteers to following these steps to start:

1. Read the community agreements page (LINK)
2. Review track listing (below) to pick a path
3. Review track task options and pick 1 to start
4. Add your info on Running Tasks spreadsheet for an empty row in selected track sheet
5. Work on selected task (ask for clarification or help from Coordinators in purple💜)
6. Once task has been completed, add completion status and relevant notes
7. REPEAT steps 2-6 if you want to take on another task (or just say bye 👋🏼 if you need to leave)

Track List Options

The following options can be considered a sort of “choose your own adventure” with each area focused on a different stage of digital preservation. As Data Rescue events are set up to welcome all skills, each track has a core focus but includes various tasks that can be completed usually within an hour.

Track 1 (Communications)

This track focuses on creating, revising, and sharing information about at-risk data. This includes adding context about collected data in order to improve management and findability of data for future purposes.

Track 2 (Data Assessment)

This track focuses on finding and evaluating valuable and relevant at-risk data.These tasks help others be able to complete more time intensive capturing tasks as they can use your “peer reviewed” assessment.

Track 3 (Technical)

This track focuses on the actual capture of at-risk data in a variety of formats. As these tasks require the most technical knowledge, skills, and equipment, volunteers are encouraged to take this track when they are able to dedicate more time.

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