Minnesota Digital Library News

The number 1

Making digital collections more discoverable, Part 1: Wikimedia

by Sara Ring, Greta Bahnemann, Theresa Berger, Brianna Krumwiede, Heidi Southworth
In 2023, Minitex and three organizations conducted a small pilot to learn more about using the wiki-based, free-to-use media repository called Wikimedia Commons, along with its sister sites Wikidata and Wikipedia, to increase discoverability of content from digital collections. Soon after adding the very first test image to Wikimedia Commons, it appeared as the top Google Search result. If this sounds intriguing, read on for a brief overview of why we did the pilot and what we learned.
The number 2

Making digital collections more discoverable, Part 2: A how-to guide

by Theresa Berger, Brianna Krumwiede, Heidi Southworth, Greta Bahnemann, Sara Ring
Part 2 in this article series includes more detailed information and guidance on how we conducted the Minitex Wikimedia pilot; what you would need to know if you wanted to try it at your organization, and links to the templates we created and other resources we used.
Pine Bloom woven swatch by Hilma Berglund

New MDL Primary Source Set: Hilma Berglund

by Grace Onsrud, Stephanie Hess
Meet Hilma Berglund, a weaver and founding member of the Weavers Guild of Minnesota, through a new Primary Source Set in the Minnesota Digital Library.
Schooners at a coal dock, Duluth, Minnesota

MDL publishes new exhibit on George A. Newton

by Greta Bahnemann
The Minnesota Digital Library has published a new exhibit on the photographer George A. Newton. Newton lived and worked in Duluth at the end of the nineteenth century.
Suffragettes at the Watonwan County Fair

New MDL Primary Source Set: Women's Suffrage

by Stephanie Hess
Explore resources related to the women’s suffrage movement with the Minnesota Digital Library’s latest Primary Source Set for educators and students.
Remember Rondo photograph album cover

New MDL Contributor: Rondo Center of Diverse Expression

by Stephanie Hess
Explore a new digital collection in the Minnesota Digital Library from the Rondo Center of Diverse Expression. It includes photographs, stories, and programs commemorating the unique Rondo Avenue neighborhood in St. Paul, which was destroyed by the construction of Interstate 94 in 1964.
Contributor's Choice exhibit 2024 logo

MDL's second annual Contributor's Choice exhibit

by Stephanie Hess
The Minnesota Digital Library has published the second annual Contributor's Choice exhibit, featuring favorite items chosen by ten of our contributing organizations.
Illustrated Historical Atlas of Minnesota

Learn Minnesota history through new MDL timelines

by Stephanie Hess
The Minnesota Digital Library has created a two-part timeline on Minnesota history featuring materials from our digital collections. These timelines explore significant moments in the history and development of the state. We encourage you to learn how local history connects with major world events in these timelines.
Reel of film sitting on a table

New training opportunity: Basics of AV Preservation

by Sara Ring, Molly Huber
Minitex and the Minnesota Digital Library are pleased to sponsor the virtual class Basics of AV Preservation on March 5th, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. The class will be presented by Alyssa Magnone from the Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC). Basics of AV Preservation is geared toward libraries, historical societies, museums, and archives. If you have audiovisual materials in your collection such as cassettes, VHS, or reel-to-reel film this is for you!
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