Minnesota Digital Library co-presents with Queens Public Library and Metropolitan New York Library Council at ALA Annual Conference in Orlando, FL

Molly Huber and Jolie Graybill co-presented with Natalie Milbrodt, Queens Public Library and Caroline Catchpole, Metropolitan New York Library Council at the 2016 ALA Annual Conference in Orlando, FL, “From Macro to Micro: How Small-Scale Digitization can Make a Big Difference”. Catchpole shared digitization efforts related to the Culture in Transit project which is a partnership effort between the Metropolitan New York Library Council, the Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Public Library. The project brings mobile scanning equipment and resources to smaller libraries, archives, museums, and the communities these entities serve. Specifically, the work of this partnership encompasses two main areas of community scanning events and institutional scanning. Milbrodt explained Queens Libraries' community scanning efforts and strategic thinking in terms of developing a coherent digitization program as well as expanding details on the partnership efforts. 

For Minnesota, Huber gave an overview of the Minnesota Digital Library’s digital efforts including Minnesota Reflections, eBooks Minnesota, and Minnesota Immigrants, while Graybill shared information about MDL’s newest pilot project, Scan for Keeps. Scan for Keeps is a collaborative effort with local historical societies and libraries across the state and grew out of grassroots interest in community scanning. Another pilot MDL is experimenting with, digital storytelling, evolved out of similar collaborative efforts with local organizations. Its intent is to capture and share scanned items, generally gathered through Scan for Keeps, that may not fit into the current digital collections.

It was fascinating to be able to compare and contrast similar programs in different parts of the country, to see what was the same and what was different. Both programs have been well received in their communities, and have generated a great deal of interest and excitement. There were many questions from the audience as well, often from people who wanted to set up similar programs in their community. Small-scale digitization can make a big difference to the community, and MDL is pleased to be serving Minnesotans in this new way.