Annotated Blog Links
Goucher College — Special Collections and Archives.
- Goucher College Special Collections and Archives. Homepage. 29, January 2010. <http://www.goucher.edu/x9158.xml>
This one is to the main Special Collections and Archives website. Check it out to see some collection highlights and become more aware of how this Goucher department operates on a daily basis.
- Goucher College Special Collections and Archives. Clinton I. Winslow Collection. 29, January 2010. <http://www.goucher.edu/x30118.xml>
This portion of the website was what I created as an extension of receiving a private research award for a summer internship. I processed the Clinton I. Winslow Collection which, as you can read, was an extensive collection of personal memorabilia and political Americana. As with archival and preservation standards, I created a finding aid to accompany the artifacts. There are actually two different versions of this finding aid in circulation; one separates the collection into general categories and topics of interest for easy access for researchers while the other version is a detailed inventory of each item within the collection. As a supplement to this internship, I put together an exhibit that was housed in our space in the former Julia Rogers Library (where we were in the basement of the library prior to moving to the Athenaeum). I also compiled these materials into a virtual exhibit that allows viewers to flip through photo galleries, view the finding aid as a pdf file, and read more about Winslow’s life and history. This project served as a learning experience and remains a continual work in progress. Considering we practically had no web representation before, I think we are at least striving towards a more updated approach through the utilization of advanced computer technology through web design.
- Goucher College Special Collections and Archives. Finding Aids. 29, January 2010. <http://www.goucher.edu/x37185.xml>
One of the major things I’ve been working on recently is a space to create a list of specific collections we possess as well as more general topics which could assist researchers, students, etc. Prior to this year, if you were not able to physically come to Goucher’s campus to access materials, patrons either requested information via telephone, email, or letter because there was no place on the web to search for any of these materials. Special Collections and Archives is working on compiling an updated, working list of collections which have been fully processed (they have also been directly linked to our catalog records). We continue to add more links to finding aids as they are finished, but I also believe it is important to incorporate a list of all our collections even if they have not been cataloged or organized yet. That way, at least we will be supplying people with the ability to acknowledge that the information actually exists!
Folger Shakespeare Library
- Folger Shakespear Library. Homepage. 30, January 2010. <http://www.folger.edu/index.cfm>
The Folger Shakespeare Library’s website is one that we use often as a reference for virtual representation. Personally, I think their website is extremely user-friendly and easily navigable. I like how they have created various sections that cater specifically to the needs of multiple types of people (visitors, students and families, k-12, scholars). FSL’s website is also fairly interactive through their widespread use of multimedia elements such as video clips, photo galleries, and links to networking devices like Twitter and Facebook. While I am not completely happy with absolutely everything they have incorporated on this site (for example, the information at times becomes a bit muddled because there is an overwhelming amount of text), I will continue to reference some of their style and content presentation methods.
Library of Congress
- Library of Congress. Digital Collections and Services. 30, January 2010. <http://www.loc.gov/library/libarch-digital.html>
I think the LoC does a really great job making the information they hold available to the public, especially through the incredibly extensive portion of their website totally dedicated to digitized collections. All archival materials are accessible – from past exhibits, current exhibit, over 1 million prints and photographs…the list goes on and on. It’s amazing! I am inspired by their ability to deliver this knowledge in such a unique and instantaneous way without losing the essence of the materials themselves in the midst of a virtual portal. One feature that strikes me as particularly innovative is the link to “International Collections.” Within this link, the LoC includes a compilation of collection materials and presentations in multiple languages, some from actual exhibits overseas and others that focus specifically on elements of another culture or language. What a unique way to keep information relevant to, potentially, the entire world. We have quite a long way to go before SC&A’s representations – both physical and virtual – come within the caliber of the LoC, but it’s definitely something towards which to aspire.
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