Everyone so far has posted some really cool ideas, and my proposal is to latch on what you guys are already talking about but delve into the description, access and output aspects of your collections and projects. As the Metadata Librarian in the Cataloging department here at UVa, my interest is in how you guys describe the stuff you have, like this travel journal and photographs and local history collections made up of lots of different formats, and whether it is possible to get non-experts in on the description (and what it would look like if we did). I’m also interested in exploring how we can use the metadata (and choose the metadata wisely) so that it can do stuff for us, like making nifty visualizations.
I am very interested in leinrang how to use open-source platforms such as Omeka to develop engaging, attractive web exhibits on historical topics that are rich in images and content. I want to do more than simply presenting text and images in a static manner (my experience so far with web exhibits). I would like users to be able to explore details in images in a seamless way, and to have easy access to multiple layers of content (such as transcriptions and translations of primary source documents, or many links from an interactive timeline). I would also like to know how far a novice can go with Omeka on his or her own, and when a developer is necessary.