Quick quiz: Is the employment outlook for librarians growing or shrinking? The answer depends on what you call a “library job.” According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for librarians is “slower than average,” with a projected rate of change in employment this decade of 7%, slower than the 14% average growth …
The following is a guest post by Nicholas Taylor, Information Technology Specialist for the Repository Development Group at the Library of Congress. Prompted by questions from Library of Congress staff on how to more effectively use web archives to answer research questions, I recently gave a presentation on “Using Wayback Machine for Research” (PDF). I …
As digital preservation and stewardship professionals, we approach digital objects from a unique perspective. We evaluate the long-term value of any particular digital object and work to develop a technical and social infrastructure that will enable us to successfully preserve the objects over time. Preserving and providing appropriate access are our primary functions, but no …
I’m obsessed with maps, especially digital maps. I’m continually amazed by the tools being developed to use location data to make our lives easier. Luckily, this interest dovetails with NDIIPP’s concerns about ensuring that digital mapping survives for the long-term, so I’m regularly scanning the landscape to figure out ways we can engage the wider …
This is a guest post from George Coulbourne, Executive Program Officer in the Office of Strategic Initiatives, Library of Congress. Braving the heat of an Indiana summer, 21 library, archive, and museum professionals recently completed the Digital Preservation Outreach and Education program’s second Train-the-Trainer Workshop. Representing the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, …
The South By Southwest conference is has become pretty big on the tech circuit and has garnered a reputation as a place where new technologies are launched. There’s an egalitarian spirit to the event (read; sprawling) that encourages anyone to attend and participate. The “anyone” increasingly includes information professionals in libraries, archives and museums (LAMs). …
Most people working with digital information are on the “supply side.” You know, the beginning of the digital information lifecycle where you create and “supply” great stuff like photos, music, TPS reports and the like. In fact, most people are on the supply side. The technology consulting firm IDC noted in their Extracting Value from …
In a world of video and web conferencing, text messaging, email, immersive communications and (almost forgot!) telephones, we seem to have eliminated the practical need to ever meet with people face-to-face. So why even have a meeting like we’re holding this week, the Digital Preservation 2012 conference? (July 24-26 at the Sheraton Pentagon City in …
The following is a guest post by Emily Reynolds, 2012 Junior Fellow. Last week, the Library of Congress Archives Forum hosted a talk by Kate Theimer of the popular blog ArchivesNext. Theimer is a prominent voice in the archival community, frequently writing and speaking about archival advocacy issues as well as the challenges and opportunities …
