Archives & Web 2.0

I’ve migrated the list first kept on this page to the Archives 2.0 wiki. The wiki is intended as a resource for locating implementations of Web 2.0 tools in archives, special collections, and historical organizations. The site is open to editing and I would appreciate feedback at wiki [@] archivesnext.com.

The “old” list:

This page is a first attempt to collect examples of archives using “new” technologies. I use the quotation marks because these really aren’t new technologies, but I think some archives still consider them with some wariness. And I didn’t want to use the “2.0″ label because that can also be misconstrued as faddish and is itself, I think, become a cliche (but I’ll change it if people really like “2.0″). So, here’s a first crack at it. This page is liable to change over time, and hopefully will evolve into the resources and examples for a Web 2.0 primer for archivists (or a similar resource under a different name). As always, feedback and additions welcome!

Presentations about 2.0 itself:

RSS:

New: Twitter:

- Deseronto Archives (@DesorontoArch)
- Manuscripts & Archives Department, University of Cape Town Libraries (@manuscripts)
- Jewish Women’s Archive (@jwaonline)

Blogs:

Institutional Blogs:

Flickr:

  • The Library of Congress has posted over 3,000 images from two photo collectios on Flickr with full metadata and lots of tags!
  • The National Library of New Zealand has some images up as well on a wide variety of subjects.
  • The National Library of Australia is also on Flickr, with representative images from many collections.
  • The Wisconsin State Historical Society has a couple hundred images on Flickr, each with a caption, information about the collection it came from, information about ordering prints, and a link to the WHS website page for that photo (from there you have the option of once click ordering).
  • The University of Maryland, Baltimore County’sUniversity Archives has posted some of their historic photographs of the campus and student life.
  • The University of Delaware Library Digital Collections has posted images, apparently mostly from their special collections.
  • The M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives in the University at Albany Libraries posts photos on Flickr.
  • The North Carolina Statue University Libraries Special Collections Research Center has about fifty lovely photos on Flickr, with links back to their homepage.
  • The Special Collections Research Center (SCRC) of the Earl Gregg Swem Library of the College of William and Mary, photos on Flickr.
  • Example of a finding aid from the Special Collections Research Center (SCRC) of the Earl Gregg Swem Library of the College of William and Mary with links to photos on Flickr.
  • Example of a Flickr “pool” from the Earl Gregg Swem Library of the College of William and Mary, with a lot of pictures from the Special Collections.
  • The Iowa State University Library Special Collections Department has a small number of images up, mostly of campus buildings.
  • The Florida Keys Public Libraries (aka the Monroe County Public Library system, which is located along the Florida Keys island chain) has two sets of images up, one of “Historic Marathon,” the other of “Waterfront Passes.”
  • Armstrong Atlantic State University’s University Archives hasn’t organized their images into sets, but does include this call on their profile: “Do you have Flicker photographs of Armstrong (the University here in Savannah Georgia)? Students, faculty, staff, special events, historical or current? If so, please join the Archives’ contacts and share!” Seems like a good idea for a lot of colleges and universities.
  • The Louis Wilson Library (aka the special collections library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel) only has four images up — but they’re good ones. Get more up there Wilson!
  • Manuscripts and Archives, University of Cape Town, South Africa has a few images up too.
  • The Luther College Archives (in Decorah, Iowa) has 629 images up, organized into sets such as Campus Organizations, Sports, Campus Life, etc.
  • Drexel University Archives also has topical arrangements, as well as sets for 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
  • Another Flickr collection features “unofficial ‘favorite photos’ of the staff of the Otis Historical Archives of the National Museum of Health and Medicine, in Washington DC.”
  • Slippery Rock University’s Archives has posted a selection of images and is hoping for some help with identification.

Podcasts:

  • Northwestern University Archives, video podcast about their football team, “Birth of the Wildcats” (also available on YouTube).
  • The University of South Florida’s Special Collections is using podcasts to highlight collections and provide such patron information as proper handling of books and what to expect on your first visit to the department, access them at: http://itunes.usf.edu/
  • Presidential Libraries Uncovered from the National Archives is a monthly podcast broadcasting historical clips from the Libraries’ collection, ranging from serious policy discussions to conversations with family members.
  • The National Archives (UK) also has a terrific looking podcast series.
  • The Library of Congress makes its talks available as webcasts, including these which may be of interest to archivists. They also have podcast interviews with some 2007 National Book Festival authors.
  • Available as a download from iTunes, NARA and Acoustiguide have produced an audio tour of the travelling exhibit “Eyewitness.”
  • “Thomas Edison’s Attic” where the “audio curator at Edison National Historic Site rummages through the archives of the legendary Edison Laboratory of West Orange, New Jersey. Tune in for Edison cylinder and disc record rarities, many not heard since “the old man” himself stashed them away.”

Tagging, commenting, or sharing:

  • The Notman Photographic Archives, part of the McCord Museum at McGill University in Montreal, allows tagging of individual cataloged photographs. A free account is required in order to add tags.
  • The Keweenaw Digital Archive at the Michigan Technological University Archives provides the capability for user to comment on images.
  • The National Archives (UK) encourages contributions from users to:
    • Add to the catalogue
    • Develop documents online
    • Expand on the National Register of Archives
    • Help other users with research guidance

Wikis:

  • The National Archives(UK) created the “Your Archives” wiki for its online community of records users.
  • The Special Collections Research Center (SCRC) of the Earl Gregg Swem Library of the College of William and Mary has a wiki.
  • The Necton Archives has a wiki to “be used to collect general anecdotal information and any other facts, stories and photographs that people are prepared to record as a basis of information used in the formal Necton Archive.
  • The Refugee Archive collections at the University of East London set up a wiki to share information with faculty and students about the collections and how to access them–and they also have set up a blog.
  • Southern Polytechnic State University seems to have set up a wiki for the whole university–but you can check out the archives and special collections page here.
  • The goal of East Asian Libraries and Archives wiki is to share information about collections in East Asia that isn’t usually found on those institution’s websites–a bit of an insider’s guide.

YouTube:

  • Northwestern University Archives, video podcast about the “Birth of the Wildcats” (their football team)
  • The Archives of Ontario has established its own channel on YouTube. As they say on the channel’s page: “Keep an eye on this space, as the Archives of Ontario will continue to post an entertaining assortment of treasures from its Sound and Moving Image collection.”
  • The University of Manitoba Archives in Winnipeg, Canada has put together a video from the Dr. T.G. Hamilton seance photographs–it’s worth checking out as a model and because of its unusual content!

Facebook & MySpace:

  • The Earl Gregg Swem Library of the College of William and Mary (see Special Collections items above) has a profile on Facebook at (available only to those with a Facebook account).

Mash-ups or combinations:

  • Two sites combine the North Carolina Postcard collection with Google Maps:
    Vanished North Carolina and Textile Mills.
  • Sappertonistory.ca is a prototype website that is testing new technologies for developing online histories and web-based archival collections. The goal is to eventually develop a user-driven, online history and digital archive collection for the neighbourhood of Sapperton. (Sponsored in part by blogger Peter Van Garderen)
  • The Polar Bear Expedition Digital Collections is an example of a “next generation” finding aid utilizing several types of 2.0 tools.

Blogs, wikis, etc. created for archivists to communicate with each other:

  • If you’re looking for a wider range of archival blogs, try the archivalblogs wiki: “a publicly maintained directory that lists blogs maintained by archives and special collections, as well as blogs being maintained by individual archivists and students in archival programs. This list also serves as a directory of collaboratively authored blogs, including blogs that support library school courses.”
  • You can see where other archivists are located on this Frappr map.
  • A bunch of lone arrangers have started a group on Ning, called (what else) Lone Arrangers.
  • The Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference (MARAC) used a blog for its Fall 2007 meeting in Williamsburg.
  • The SAA Museum Archives Section maintains a blog.
  • The Society of Southwestern Archivists (SSA) has set up a wiki for its 2008 meeting in Houston.
  • The Council of State Archives (COSA) is using a wiki to share information about its Emergency Preparedness Initiative.
  • Columbia University’s Butler Library has started a Reference Wiki which looks like a very interesting model (and they’ve got a blog too–there’s a link at the bottom of the page).
  • The ACA student chapter at the Faculty of Information Studies, University of Toronto has a wiki listing its events and graduates.
  • Really focused at libraries, but perhaps of some interest to archivists too is the First People’s Libraries Wiki which “highlights the work of libraries and library staff advocating for and developing more effective libraries and library services for the Indigenous Peoples of North America.”
  • Someone (I am not sure who) started a “Save Archives” wiki to provide information about the efforts to save funding for the NHPRC in FY2008.
  • I think most people already know about it, but for anyone who has missed it, there is a wiki devoted to the History of Archives, Recordkeeping, and Records.
  • And, of course, there is the Unofficial wiki for the SAA 2007 Annual Meeting in Chicago–which I hope will continue to be updated and used as a resource.

Cool things that are not in English!

  • “The digital boarding house” by Norwegian State Archives where users can contribute their own databases.
  • LOFO2 - a tool created especially for archives/local history that enables the user to participate, discuss and contribute). (In Danish)
  • RSS on on the catalogue of the Historical Museum in Stockolm. You can subscribe to particular objects but also to new objects from at specific location or parish.

Kate T. | datetime August 16, 2007 2:12 pm

4 Comments

Other Links to this Post

  1. Verso i “social archives” “?” e/o “!” « Archivagando — November 4, 2007 @ 9:09 am

  2. Archivos un poco más 2.0 « @rchivista — January 23, 2008 @ 12:56 pm

  3. Archivi di qua e di là dell’Atlantico « Archivagando — April 26, 2008 @ 11:21 am

  4. It’s the Collections that are Special | In the Library with the Lead Pipe — February 11, 2009 @ 4:40 am

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