On September 4th, we kicked off the Recollection Wisconsin Digitization Initiative with a 3-hour virtual training session with students, host site supervisors and WiLS and Recollection Wisconsin staff.
Over the course of the afternoon, participants learned more about Recollection Wisconsin, the Digital Public Library of America and WiLS. Recollection Wisconsin staff presented key digitization best practices and shared knowledge, tools and resources related to scanning, metadata creation, folder- and file-naming and organization schemes, digital preservation, and creating project documentation. Each project team had time to review their specific project plan, talk about goals and outcomes, and learn more about their host site and its mission and collections. After a short break, the entire cohort reconvened to discuss program logistics and expectations, review a few schedules and wrap up with Q and A. We’ll be sharing more about each team and updates on their project work in the coming weeks.
This initiative brings together Wisconsin-based content partners and information school graduate students to create and preserve digital collections. We’re thrilled to have the following teams participate in this collaborative effort.
- Kierstin Wagner (UW-Milwaukee SOIS) at the Ho-Chunk Language Division with Samson Falcon and Adrienne Thunder. Project: Digitizing and preserving Ho-Chunk language learning materials using the Mukurtu content management system.
- Julia Lalor (UW-Madison iSchool) at the Edgerton Public Library with Beth Krebs-Smith. Project: Digitization of historic local newspapers including the Edgerton Reporter and the Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter.
- Jacqueline Steel (UW-Madison iSchool) at the Eagle River Historical Society in collaboration with the Nicolet Federated Library System with Vito Bortolotti and Tracy Vreeke. Project: Digitizing materials documenting tourism and recreation in the Eagle River area including historic resorts and supper clubs.
Much gratitude to our partners at UW-Milwaukee SOIS and UW-Madison iSchool and special thanks to the state of Wisconsin for financial support enabling this opportunity. Calling all Wisconsin information school graduate students and new content partners! This program will be available again in spring and summer 2025. Interested? For more information, visit Recollection Wisconsin Digitization Initiative or contact Vicki Tobias at vicki@wils.org.
