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Complete development issues from 2012-09-21 Scientific Advisory Board meeting - The SAB agreed to a number of changes in the way arXiv should send emails to moderators and control user selection of categories. Changes also add the ability for moderators to comment on and put submissions on "hold" without the need for arXiv admin interaction, a first step toward empowering moderators though more direct facilities. Work was started in 2012 and will be completed in early 2013.
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Change email handling to support arXiv admin and moderation ticketing system - The "Request Tracker" software has been selected and we will rework email filtering software to use this instead of the current email-based arXiv admin workflows.
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Improve tools and interfaces to support moderators - We will work with the SAB and moderators to define and develop better tools that allow moderators to interact more directly and efficiently with the arXiv system and administrators. The overarching aim is to make best use of available moderator effort by making the work of moderators as quick and convenient as possible, consistent with achieving the quality goals and following policies set out by the SAB.
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User Support and Moderation
Strengthen physics moderation - We need a sustainability effort aimed at strengthening physics moderation. This will involve finding additional moderators and seeking Establish a new Physics Subject Advisory Committee - Physics moderation has become overly dependent on a few active physics moderators, especially Paul Ginsparg. The current Subject Advisory Committee in physics is dormant. The arXiv Scientific Advisory Board is engaged in an effort to identify additional moderators and seek new leadership within the arXiv physics community. Over the years, physics moderation has grown substantially dependent on Paul Ginsparg's involvement. With Paul's expressed desire to cease this routine involvement, we need to attract new people, explore new strategies, and build up the supporting infrastructure for physics moderation. This effort can in turn inform other subject areas with regard to effective and sustainable moderation practices.
New, better, and improved moderation tools - We need better and newer tools to support arXiv moderation processes. These processes have been supported in much the same way for 10-15 years. We can gain efficiencies and reduce effort and costs by applying newer technologies.
Explore the advantages and practicability of having an arXiv Scientific Director - Work with arXiv Scientific Advisory Board to define the role of a Scientific Director, and explore with stakeholders the desirability and feasibility of such a position.
Define new tools and interfaces for moderators - Work with existing moderators to gather and refine requirements for new tools and interfaces to support their work. Existing processes are in need of enhancement or replacement as we upgrade moderation processes and work to improve moderator efficiency and convenienceReview arXiv policy documentation and user support guides - arXiv has a substantial amount of policy documentation, which has grown organically over the years. Its organization and presentation needs review and updating. User help pages need an even more thorough review. Many of the user help pages are out-of-date or entirely obsolete. These materials need substantial reorganization and clean up.
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Governance
Form the first MAB - Make MAB appointments in January'13
Finalize SAB bylaws bylaws - The current SAB members has started to review the draft bylaws during the last quarter of 2012 and aim to finalize them in early 2013.One of the outstanding tasks is assessing the idea SAB is reviewing a revised draft of its bylaws. A final version of these will be adopted in early 2013, along with the appointment of a Board Chair. Also under consideration is the question of appointing a scientific leader director — a part-time position to provide intellectual leadership from the perspective of the scientific community.
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