ICG Hack/Doc Spring 2019 @ Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Dates and Locations of the Hack/Doc

Dates: May 23-24, 2019 (both days: 8:30AM - 5:00PM)

Location: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Address: 110 8th Street, Troy, New York, 12180

Accessibility

Campus: Due to the nature of Rensselaer’s private campus, there are gates that prohibit vehicles from entering the main campus. However, a special access pass can be acquired for anyone who needs the ability to park at Folsom Library. Please email Jen privately (kubaj@rpi.edu).

Folsom Library: Folsom Library is handicap accessible on the main (2nd floor). There is a wheelchair accessible bathroom located on the main floor, nearby the Hack/doc location in the Fischbach and Library Conference Rooms.

Folsom Library is a large concrete “Brutalist” building, which sits in front of a lovely stone chapel. The main entrance to Folsom Library faces the chapel (Voorhees Computing Center). To enter the building, please press the button outside the doors to the right as you’re facing the entrance. Staff inside will unlock the door from their desk. Upon entering the library you’ll see signs for ICG Hack/doc with arrows directing you.

Virtual Attendance The Hack/doc at RPI will utilize Webex for virtual attendees. Virtual attendees and presenters will receive two invitations by the end of 5/20/2019.

RSVP

Please note: as of 5/13/2019, there are 5 in-person spots left for each day of the Hack/doc. If you wish to attend, please contact Jen Monger at kubaj@rpi.edu. If you wish to attend virtually please add your name to the attendee sign-up sheet

Lodging

Hotel and other accommodations in order of preference based on vicinity to RPI campus.

Courtyard by Marriott: 515 River St, Troy, NY 12180, (518) 240-1000 Please note: lower rates for the Marriott have expired.

Other lodging:

Transportation

Troy and the Capital Region offer Uber and Lyft.

Traveling from NERCOMP at Union College, Schenectady, NY: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 27 minutes (15 miles) East of Schenectady.

Traveling via Amtrak: The Albany Rensselaer station is 16 minutes (10 miles) South of Troy.

Traveling by Air: Albany International Airport is 14 minutes (10 miles) Southwest of Troy.

Getting around Troy: The Rensselaer campus is located on a hill above downtown Troy. Please be advised that if you choose to walk from downtown up to Folsom Library, you’ll be climbing a marble staircase called The Approach which takes you up to 8th Street. From there you will have to climb several additional stairs to get up to the library. From the Marriott downtown, it is a nice, brisk walk.

Maps

Travel information from the college website: https://info.rpi.edu/map

Parking

Rensselaer campus guest parking is very limited. Here is a map that shows all of the streets where you can find available parking a short walking distance to the Library. Full disclosure – parking at Rensselaer has always been a challenge for visitors for two reasons: 1. Rensselaer has small visitor parking lots, and any of the large lots are by permit and pass only for faculty, staff or students 2. The City of Troy who maintains the streets surrounding campus may or may not change the parking rules on any given week! Please note the following as you review the map link above:

  1. Rensselaer has two visitor lots. Both are metered and provide a credit card pay station. Parking in the visitor lots costs $7/day. Please be aware that spaces are very limited in these lots. The visitor lot closest to Folsom Library only has 9 spaces.
  2. Folsom Library and most of campus is surrounded by 4 streets: 8th Street, College Ave, 15th Street, and Sage Ave.
    • There is decent street parking on College Ave, especially if you arrive early.
    • There is limited street parking on 15th because of the Rensselaer Student Union.
    • Sage Ave. should have decent parking
    • Another possibility but a bit of a walk is Peoples Ave.
    • I do not suggest you park on 8th Street (below Folsom Library) – this street only has 2 hr parking, and the City will ticket you.

Food

Light breakfast, lunch, snacks and lots of coffee and tea will be provided.

Dinner is on your own and we can make recommendations and/or go out together or in groups. Some suggestions:

WiFi and Remote Attendance

For Eduroam members, WiFi is available through Eduroam: https://dotcio.rpi.edu/eduroam For non Eduroam: Rensselaer doesn’t offer wireless connection to the public, but we can accomodate guests by creating personalized, but limited accounts. George Biggar will assist anyone who needs a log in and password on site, Thursday & Friday mornings.

Code of Conduct

See our ICG Code of Conduct here.

Contact

Please contact Jenifer Monger at kubaj@rpi.edu with any questions or concerns.

Schedule & Community Notes

The Hack/doc schedule is available here.

Community Notes available here

What is a hack/doc and who should attend?

A hack/doc combines the form of a hackathon–bringing coders together to work on a predetermined problem in a large block of time–with a substantial documentation and testing component. Attendees with a wide variety of skill sets will be welcomed and supported in hands-on work with ISLE. Anyone who works with installation or maintenance of Islandora (e.g. developers, DevOps folks), people from small institutions with Islandora repositories, and folks interested in migrating to Islandora are especially encouraged to attend.

What will we be doing?

Plans for the hack/doc are still being formed, but on one of the days will focus on ISLE, the other on LASIR. Other activities may include improving ISLE testing and documentation.