Get to Know the Avalon Team: Julie Hardesty

 

In our new series "Get to Know the Avalon Team," we'll be providing a closer look at the individuals who are working each day to develop the Avalon Media System.

Julie Hardesty

 

Julie is the Metadata Analyst/Librarian for the Digital Library Program at Indiana University where she manages metadata creation and use for digital library services and projects.

 

Can you talk a bit about your role in the project?

I am a Metadata Specialist on the Avalon project.  I work with metadata folks on the project at Northwestern University to develop descriptive, structural, and technical metadata specifications for Avalon.  Some of this information will be captured automatically based on the video and audio files that are uploaded, but some metadata, like descriptive, will be brought in from either batch loads of records (like an extract from a library catalog) or manually entered through Avalon's content management web application.  I'm helping to construct that workflow as well.
 

What is a typical work week like for you?

I work on a variety of projects, including Avalon, so each week tends to have a slightly different focus - a new set of problems to solve, meetings to conduct or attend, and technical work to complete.  But mostly meetings, email, and then metadata/programming work when I get a chance.
 

What apps/software/gadgets can't you live without?

Well, I can live without any of them really, but I can't do my work without Oxygen.  Sounds dramatic, doesn't it?  It's just a souped up XML editor.  I consider myself pretty basic when it comes to technology needs, but I do make heavy use of the iBook and Kindle apps for reading, Netflix for media, and icanhascheezburger.com for sanity.  And I'm pretty well hooked into the Mac world of things (iPhone, iPad, and laptop).
 

When you’re not working, what can you be found doing?

I bicycle a lot.  I also enjoy cooking, baking, eating, and drinking, but not necessarily in that order.  I've been known to organize outings (aka, happy hours) and parties because mostly, I like to hang out with my friends.