Symposium on the Future of Libraries
In an age where information about local events may be circulated exclusively via websites, blogs, and social media, it can be challenging for local history librarians in public libraries to collect, preserve, and provide long term access to historically significant documents as part of their special or local collection development. Public libraries, when compared to other cultural heritage organizations, are largely underrepresented in the web archiving community. Be it due to the technical challenges, the lack of training opportunities, or the lack of a community of public library-based practitioners, there is a critical national need to develop skills and practices among public librarians in digital stewardship activities like web archiving.
This session will feature participants in, and organizers of, a project aimed at tackling this disparity and making web archiving more approachable to public libraries. Community Webs: Empowering Public Librarians to Create Community History Web Archives is an IMLS funded project offered by the Internet Archive and WebJunction, in collaboration with Queens Public Library, San Francisco Public Library, and Cleveland Public Library. Beginning in September 2017 and continuing for two years, 27 participating public librarians from different types of libraries (tribal, rural, military etc.) across the country will develop web archiving programs, tripling the number of public libraries engaging in web archiving and developing a cohort of leaders in the field. In this time they will also be using and enriching a curriculum of open source educational materials geared toward web archiving, public engagement, and incorporating patron input in web archive collection building.
During this session you’ll hear perspectives from members of the Community Webs project. Organizers from the Internet Archive will discuss the genesis, scope, and goals of this project, and its significance in both the web archiving and public history communities. Participating librarians will share information about their burgeoning web archive collecting programs, including how they’re involving their patrons and local communities in collection development and access, as well as successes and challenges they’ve encountered in the first quarter of participation in the project.
ALA Unit/Subunit: ALA, Center for the Future of Libraries
Meeting Type: Symposium on the Future of Libraries
Cost: Included with full conference registration.
Open/Closed: Open
Maria Praetzellis
Program Manger
Internet Archive
Julie Tabberer
Librarian III
Grand Rapids Public Library, Grand Rapids History & Special Collections
Dylan Gaffney
Local History, Arts, Music and Film Specialist
Forbes Library