Jan. 2nd, 2011

[info]zooey_glass04
[info]otw_news
[info]zooey_glass04
[info]otw_news

Archive of Our Own Job Ad: MySQL Database Developer

[info]zooey_glass04
[info]otw_news
Do you love the Archive? Do you have skills in database analysis? Would you like to make these great two tastes taste great together?

We're looking for a MySQL database developer who can help us optimise our database performance on the Archive of Our Own. The Archive is run on MySQL 5.0 and Rails 3, but you don't need to know Rails to help -- we would really like someone who can look over our database query logs and help us spot inefficiencies!

You'd be joining a team of dedicated and passionate volunteers with a love of fandom and tech-geekery. We're looking for someone with the time and skills to help us evaluate and optimise our current setup — this can be a short-term commitment, although if you are able to join us for the long haul your skills will be very welcome.

If you're interested, please contact our Volunteers and Recruitment Committee using 'MySQL database developer' as your subject line, and let us know your skills and experience.

Your Archive needs YOU!

Mirrored from an original post on the Archive of Our Own.
[info]helkalantto
[info]otw_news
[info]helkalantto
[info]otw_news

HADOPI Law - Concerns about impact on French fan creativity.

[info]helkalantto
[info]otw_news
Written by Natacha Guyot

French fans may find their creativity, or their ability to share fanworks and view works created by others, stifled following the introduction of a new law. On November 10, 2010, the decree regarding the HADOPI (High Authority for the Distribution of Creation and Online Protection of Rights) Law (also known as the Creation and Internet law) was officially published in France, bringing new regulations for the protection of copyrighted content on the Internet, as well as the expansion of legal content platforms for Internet users. However, how this new law will be applied in practice remains uncertain.

This new judicial framework is meant to protect arts industries (mostly musical and video) and to encourage Internet users to behave more responsibly towards artists. But despite the discourse focusing on "respect for the artist", the new law enforces a view based mostly on commercial interests. There is a danger that the law may push aside alternatives, from Creative Common Licences to possible fair use for such things as fanworks. This could keep French fans exiled to spaces hosted overseas where English is the lingua franca, even when it comes to French fandoms around French sources which have little to no exposure abroad.

Mirrored from an original post on the OTW Blog, where it is available in Français and Español.

Dec. 31st, 2010

[info]allisonmorris
[info]otw_news
[info]allisonmorris
[info]otw_news

News from Term Break - 2011 OTW Board and Committee Chairs

[info]allisonmorris
[info]otw_news
The OTW is officially on break, and will be until mid-January, but it's a very busy time for many of us!*

A change is as good as a rest, or so we've heard! That's a good thing, because change is what we're preparing for: a new term, a new Board, and new committees, all well rested and ready for a strong 2011. In some cases, change means new staff in the form of volunteers who are able to increase their commitment; in other cases, change brings brand new people who answered our Willing to Serve post in October.

The start of a new term also means staff who have served on committees in previous terms have a chance at trying their hand at something new, which strengthens communication and helps foster perspectives that embrace our organization as a dynamic whole rather than as isolated projects. It makes us stronger, smarter, and more sustainable. Fandom is about sharing ideas and making new things out of old, about building our own worlds from a combination of all our dreams; in short, transforming the world as we transform ourselves and each other.

The Organization for Transformative Works is pleased to confirm the 2011 Board of Directors: Rachel Barenblat, Hele Braunstein, Francesca Coppa, Ira Gladkova, Sheila Lane, Allison Morris, and Kristen Murphy. After three years of formal service, founding members Naomi Novik and Rebecca Tushnet have become Emeritus Board Members.

Elizabeth Yalkut, who joined the Board beginning with the 2010 OTW term, has stepped down for the year due to personal reasons. We hope she will be able to consider returning to the Board in the future. We're also happy she will remain on staff during the coming year!

Luckily, we have an excellent candidate who has been heartily endorsed by our members and who has very graciously agreed to step in to complete the remaining two years of Elizabeth's Board appointment. Hele Braunstein had an excellent showing in the November elections and impressed the other candidates, the Board, and candidate chat attendees with her thoughtful approach and commitment to inclusiveness and diversity. A longstanding staff member with our Translation and International Outreach committees, an active Tag Wrangler, and a liaison to the AO3 Support team, Hele has worked to keep things running smoothly for everyone.

As we look forward we also want to look back and take a moment to thank Naomi Novik and Rebecca Tushnet for both their sterling service as founding Board members and for their willingness to stay on as staff. They are bright lights of the OTW, and we haven't burned them out! Victory!

Busy even over break, the new Board determined what committees will be necessary in the new term, the best candidates to chair those committees, and asked those candidates if they were willing to serve and crossed our fingers while we waited for their replies -- we're on cloud nine, since every single one of them accepted. \o/ The OTW's new term begins 17 January, 2011 and there's plenty of work for all the teams being assembled!

Without further ado, Board officers and committee chairs for the 2011 OTW Term: )

*We're not even getting into how busy the amazing coders and testers of the AO3 are right now, but we're very grateful to them, and are happy to see the good feedback on their work on Twitter and elsewhere! They'd do it even without the pats on the back (they want the Archive to be awesome, too), but the appreciation helps!

Mirrored from an original post on the OTW Blog.

Dec. 28th, 2010

[info]francescacoppa
[info]otw_news
[info]francescacoppa
[info]otw_news

Memorial Fund for Ming Wathne Established at the University of Iowa

[info]francescacoppa
[info]otw_news
Ming Wathne, long time archivist of the Fanzine Archives, passed away on December 17, 2010 at the age of 84. Before she died, the OTW helped her transfer the entire archive - over 3,000 zines - to the Special Collections Department of the University of Iowa, where it became the founding collection of the OTW's Fan Culture Preservation Project.

Ming's husband has been receiving queries about memorial donations, and so has established a fund in support of the Fanzine Archives at Iowa. Gifts in memory of Ming Wathne may be made by sending a check made out to The University of Iowa Foundation to:

The University of Iowa Foundation
Levitt Center for University Advancement
One West Park Road
P.O. Box 4550
Iowa City IA 52244-4550

Please note on your check “In memory of Ming Wathne.”

These gifts will be credited to The University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections Fund, account number 30-762-054, for the growth and maintenance of her fanzine collection, and to support joint activities with the Organization for Transformative Works (OTW), whose Open Doors project to preserve fanzine history assisted in bringing Ming’s collection to the University of Iowa Libraries.

Mirrored from an original post on the OTW Blog.
[info]francescacoppa
[info]otw_news
[info]francescacoppa
[info]otw_news

Geeks Are Sexy: (We Knew That!)

[info]francescacoppa
[info]otw_news
Geeksaresexy.net, which bills itself as providing "tech, science, news, and social issues for geeks," posted an article about Yuletide, the annual rare and obscure fandoms fanfiction exchange, currently being hosted at the Archive of Our Own: Yuletide: Stories About (Seriously) Everything.

Mirrored from an original post on the OTW Blog.

Dec. 19th, 2010

[info]allisonmorris
[info]otw_news
[info]allisonmorris
[info]otw_news

End of Year Reminder 2010

[info]allisonmorris
[info]otw_news
We're drawing toward the end of the year, a busy time on both fannish and non-fannish fronts for many of us. We wanted to be sure to remind you that the next few weeks are your last chance to qualify for tax deductions in 2010 (United States). If you've been thinking about donating to the OTW but haven't done so yet, you may want to take a look at your finances and see whether it would be to your benefit to do so before December 31. And if you're employed, please find out if your employer offers matching donations! Every dollar you give could be worth two dollars to the OTW. You can learn more about how to get your donation matched by your employer on the support the OTW page (scroll down to where it says, "If your employer offers matching donations, you may be able to double your gift!")

Of course, we're glad of donations of money or help at any time -- if you'd like to give of your time and effort as well as, or instead of, your money, please see our Willing to Serve post for descriptions of how you can help with the OTW's various projects.

We're also offering a variety of premiums for your donation over US$50. Mugs, thermoses, totebags! Celebrate the OTW and get something for yourself this season!

Mirrored from an original post on the OTW Blog.

Dec. 15th, 2010

[info]francescacoppa
[info]otw_news
[info]francescacoppa
[info]otw_news

AMVs: DIY 2010

[info]francescacoppa
[info]otw_news
Part One and Part Two of the anime music video show curated by Tim Park (aka Doki Doki) for DIY 2010 is up at Henry Jenkins's blog.

Mirrored from an original post on the OTW Blog.

Dec. 11th, 2010

[info]allisonmorris
[info]otw_news
[info]allisonmorris
[info]otw_news

Holiday Slowdowns (& their Upsides!) at the AO3

[info]allisonmorris
[info]otw_news
This is the time of year when fans participate in fic exchanges and drink mulled cider and curse out the Archive of Our Own for being so @#$!%&# slow. Because after a day of fighting holiday crowds or waiting on lines in department stores, nothing bums you out like getting Error 502: Page did not respond in a timely fashion on your favorite comfort fic.

Believe us: we know! We're fans too, and we use the AO3, and after a long day fighting holiday crowds or coding a new feature, nothing bums us out like getting Error 502 on our favorite comfort fic, either.

We want you to know we're doing something about it! We're currently in the process of putting together a new systems architecture — including the imminent purchase of several very shiny new servers thanks to your support — that will boost performance substantially.

Read more... )

Mirrored from an original post on the Archive of Our Own, and available at the OTW Blog, where it is available in Deutsch and Español.

Dec. 2nd, 2010

[info]francescacoppa
[info]otw_news
[info]francescacoppa
[info]otw_news

DIY 2010 Parts III and IV

[info]francescacoppa
[info]otw_news
The third and fourth parts of the Vidding section of the DIY 2010 show - featuring interviews with vidders Giandujakiss, Flummery, Counteragent, and kiki_miserychic- are now available at Henry Jenkins' blog. For your reference, links to all four sections are below.

Vids: Part One
Vids: Part Two
Vidder Interviews with Giandujakiss and Flummery: Part Three
Vidder Interviews with Counteragent and kiki_miserychic: Part Four

Mirrored from an original post on the OTW Blog.

Nov. 30th, 2010

[info]mjacobson
[info]otw_news
[info]mjacobson
[info]otw_news

November 2010 Newsletter, Vol 44

[info]mjacobson
[info]otw_news
Welcome to our November newsletter! OTW news for you, just below the cut.

Read more... )


Mirrored from an original post on the OTW Blog.