FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press contact: Audrey Fischer (202) 707-0022, afis@loc.gov
Public contact: Kristopher Nelson (202) 707-5764, knel@loc.gov
Washington, D.C. — The Library of Congress, in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, has selected 10 candidates for the inaugural class of the National Digital Stewardship Residency (NDSR) program. The nine-month program begins in September 2013.
The NDSR program offers recent master’s program graduates in specialized fields — library science, information science, museum studies, archival studies and related technology — the opportunity to gain valuable professional experience in digital preservation. Residents will attend an intensive two-week digital stewardship workshop this fall at the Library of Congress. They will then work on a specialized project at one of 10 host institutions in the Washington, D.C. area, including the Library of Congress. These projects will allow them to acquire hands-on knowledge and skills regarding collection, selection, management, long-term preservation and accessibility of digital assets.
The residents listed below were selected by an expert committee of Library of Congress and Institute of Museum and Library Services staff, with commentary from each host institution.
2013 National Digital Stewardship Residents
(Name; hometown; university; host institution; project description)
Julia Blasé; Tucson, Ariz.; University of Denver; National Security Archive; to take a snapshot of all archive activities that involve the capture, preservation and publication of digital assets.
Heidi Dowding; Roseville, Mich.; Wayne State University; Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection; to identify an institutional solution for long-term digital asset management, conduct research on a variety of software systems and draft an institutional policy for the appraisal and selection of content destined for preservation.
Maureen Harlow; Clayville, N.Y.; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; National Library of Medicine; to create a collection of web content on a specific theme or topic of interest such as medicine and art or the e-patient movement.
Jaime McCurry; Seaford, N.Y.; Long Island University; Folger Shakespeare Library; to establish local routines and best practices for archiving and preserving the institution’s digital content.
Lee Nilsson; Eastpointe, Mich.; Eastern Washington University; Library of Congress, Office of Strategic Initiatives; to analyze the future risk of obsolescence to digital formats used at the Library and work with Library staff to develop an action plan to prevent the risks.
Margo Padilla; Oakland, Calif.; San Jose State University, Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities; to create and share a research report for access models and collection interfaces for born-digital literary materials. She will also submit recommendations for access policies for born-digital collections.
Emily Reynolds; Pleasantville, N.Y.; University of Michigan; The World Bank Group; to facilitate and coordinate the eArchives digitization project, resulting in the creation of a digitized and cataloged historical collection of key archival materials representing more than 60 years of global development work.
Molly Schwartz; Dickerson, Md.; University of Maryland; Association of Research Libraries; to strengthen and expand a new initiative on digital accessibility in research libraries by incorporating a universal design approach to library collections and services.
Erica Titkemeyer; Cary, N.C.; New York University; Smithsonian Institution Archives; to identify the specialized digital and curatorial requirements of time-based media art and establish a benchmark of best practices to ensure that institution’s archives will stand the test of time.
Lauren Work; Rochester, N.Y.; University of Washington; Public Broadcasting Service; to develop and apply evaluation tools, define selection criteria and outline recommended workflows needed to execute a successful analog digitization initiative for the PBS moving image collection.
For more information about the National Digital Stewardship Residency program, including information about how to be a host or partner for next year’s class, visit www.loc.gov/ndsr. Internship opportunities in digital technology are available in the Library’s Office of Strategic Initiatives (www.loc.gov/internosi).
Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution. The Library seeks to spark imagination and creativity and to further human understanding and wisdom by providing access to knowledge through its magnificent collections, programs, publications and exhibitions. Many of the Library’s rich resources can be accessed through its website at www.loc.gov. For more information about internships and employment at the Library, go to www.loc.gov/hr/employment.
About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.