The document outlines a 5-step process for establishing a digital scholarship commons at a university. Step 1 involves taking stock of existing services, hardware, expertise, and peers. Step 2 is to listen to potential partners such as administrators, library staff, IT staff, faculty, students, and special centers. Step 3 is to prepare for anticipated needs such as websites and policies. Step 4 recommends building projects with reusable tools and considering access and sustainability. Step 5 advises being realistic about current capacity while remaining optimistic about future potential.

1. Emory University's
Digital Scholarship Commons
Stewart Varner
Digital Scholarship Coordinator

2. Step 1: Take stock
 Services
 Hardware
 Expertise
 Peers

3. Step 2: Listen to potential partners
 Admins
 Library staff
 IT staff
 Faculty
 Students
 Special Centers

4. Step 3: Get ready for what you know
you will need
 Websites
 Policies
 Training

5. Step 4: Build with the future in mind
 Create project charters. These should state the scope of
a project and define the responsibilities of individual
team members.
 Try to adopt reusable tools.
 Consider access and sustainability at the beginning.

6. Step 5: Be realistic but remain
optimistic
 Be honest with yourself and your partners about
capacity.
 Don’t let lack of capacity today be mistaken for
permanent reality.