Getting Started with Digital Commonwealth & Free Digitization

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The first in a series of free Introductory Workshops around the state

May 27, 2015 from 10-12 at Jonathan Bourne Library, Bourne, MA

If your institution is looking for a presence in the digital world but you aren’t sure where to start, then this seminar is for you.  Join representatives from the Boston Public Library and the Digital Commonwealth Board in this practical 2-hour seminar that will answer:

  • What is Digital Commonwealth?
  • How does one apply for free digitization?
  • What free services does the Boston Public Library offer?
  • What kind of commitment does an institution have to make to get involved?
  • What are benefits of membership in Digital Commonwealth?

Registration is free to libraries and cultural institutions across the state of Massachusetts.

Register at: http://digitalcommonwealth.memberlodge.org/events

Presenters:  Digital Commonwealth & Boston Public Library Digitization Team

If you can’t make this one, consider these:

  • July 7 2015 – Joshua Hyde Library in Sturbridge (tentative)
  • August 20, 2015 – Lucius Beebe Library in Wakefield
  • Sept. 22, 2015 – MLS Whately Office 10-12

Hope to see you there!

Elizabeth Cousins

Co-Chair, Digital Commonwealth Outreach Committee

New Collections Added to the Digital Commonwealth in March and April

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A lot of new collections have been added to the Digital Commonwealth website since our February post. Here’s the complete list of collections added in March and April.

Collections Added in April:

Griffin Museum

Arthur Griffin Photographs : 3,812 items added to existing collection

Newton Free Library

52 collections: 3,803 items

U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center

Natick Soldier Systems Center Photographic Collection : 2,838 items added to existing collection

Public Library of Brookline

Brookline Public Library Manuscript Collection : 462 items

Whitman Public Library

Ruth Graves Wakefield/Toll House Collection : 16 items

Erving Public Library

Erving Public Library Gravestone Rubbings : 44 items

Plymouth Public Library

Plymouth Tercentenary Photographs : 159 items

Beaman Memorial Library

Beaman Memorial Public Library Historical Collection : 113 items

Chelsea Public Library

City of Chelsea Historical Postcards : 128 items

Great Chelsea Fire of 1908 : 374 items

Hingham Public Library

Scenes from Hingham’s Yesteryears-Hingham Public Library’s Postcard Collection : 210 items

Boston Public Library

Magic Posters : 45 items

Anti-Slavery Collection : 38 items

Eadweard Muybridge’s Animal Locomotion : 783 items

Photographs of the American West : 296 items

Collections Added in March:

Cary Memorial Library

Edwin B. Worthen Collection : 67 items

Cary Library Local History Collection : 2 items

Public Library of Brookline

Brookline Photograph Collection : 605 items added to existing collection

Hatfield Historical Museum

Howes Brothers Glass Slides, Hatfield, Massachusetts, 1882-1907 : 78 items

Old Manuscripts and Deeds : 202 items

Hatfield Local History Collection : 7 items

Lenox Historical Society

Lenox Historical Society Collection : 165 items

Dana Hall School

Nina Heald Webber 1949 Archives Collection : 81 items

Bay Path University

Bay Path University Photograph Collection : 1,062 items

Lancaster Historical Society

Lancaster, Massachusetts Historical Image Collection : 426 items

Lincoln Public Library

Lincoln Town Archives : 6 items

Thomas Crane Public Library

Parker Collection : 5,371 items

Lenox Library Association

Local History Photograph Collection : 1,708 items

Edwin Hale Lincoln Photographs : 567 items

Boston Public Library

Fine and Historic Bookbindings : 352 items

Justin H. Goodstein-Aue Collection : 20 items

Sheet Music Lithograph Covers : 219 items

Archive of Photographic Documentation of Early Massachusetts Architecture : 332 items

NEA Recognizes Digital Commonwealth and BPL

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On March 21st, Digital Commonwealth was co-awarded the New England Archivist’s Archival Advocacy Award along with BPL’s Digital Services. The award was presented on Saturday morning at the NEA business meeting (part of the Spring NEA meeting).

NEA’s former president Alyssa Pacy presented the award and highlighted the work BPL’s Digital Services staff members have been doing to help institutions share content in Digital Commonwealth. Alyssa acknowledged the important work BPL’s digital services staff had been able to for cultural organizations because of federal funding (the initial grant funding), and ongoing state funding.  Amy Ryan thanked the New England Archivists for the award and said she was honored to accept on behalf of the BPL but wanted Tom Blake to say a few words because of all he has done with the work that was being recognized. Tom acknowledged that the BPL’s plan to assist others with digitization tasks when the BPL has over a million items to digitize is ambitious but he feels like it is important and he appreciated the fact that Amy Ryan has been so supportive of the efforts.  He acknowledged the work of all in his department and the receptiveness of the organizations they have assisted.  He thanked everyone from the NEA/MARAC meeting who had volunteered to help with geo-coding at the BPL on Thursday (3/19); this was the “Day of Service” activity offered in conjunction with the conference.

Nancy Heywood accepted the award on behalf of Digital Commonwealth.  Nancy complimented the BPL’s developers for their excellent work on the website and also the excellent work of Tom Blake’s department.  She also had the opportunity to mention that Digital Commonwealth’s partnership with the BPL (in which the BPL takes the lead on the repository and portal) is allowing Digital Commonwealth the non-profit organization to think about programming/events/training sessions that will help the people involved with digitization efforts become knowledgeable about relevant issues. Nancy also thanked everyone who worked at institutions who have contributed content to the Digital Commonwealth website.