In 2022, Recollection Wisconsin prioritized planning for long-term financial sustainability. We know the services and expertise provided by Recollection Wisconsin are important to our individual partners and the state’s cultural heritage community and that without them, fewer organizations would be able to share their community’s history with the world.
This year, in order to provide a more reliable funding stream for Recollection Wisconsin and to enable future growth, we are working to support DPI’s inclusion of the program as part of its funding request for the upcoming biennial state budget. Additionally, we are exploring alternative funding sources to ensure that Recollection Wisconsin – and the value it provides to nearly 250 libraries, archives, historical societies, and museums of all sizes in the state – continues well into the future.
Nonetheless, 2022 was a productive and joyful year. Our collection and community grew steadily. We saw usage increase, continuing the steady growth we’ve seen since 2019.
We improved awareness of and access to Recollection Wisconsin and our Content Partners’ valuable collections for educators. We fully revised and released the Digital Readiness Toolkit, a complete guide to creating and tending a digital collection. We told the stories of everyday Wisconsin life in online exhibits and on social media. We supported efforts to both do and learn about the preservation of audiovisual materials. We were proud to be part of DPLA’s new effort to advance racial justice in American libraries with our partners at UW-Milwaukee Libraries and the Milwaukee Women’s Art Library.
We hope you enjoy reading about all this work and more in the Recollection Wisconsin 2022 Year in Review!
