TRAVERSE CITY — The Traverse Area District Library recently launched the Michigan Digital Preservation Network, a new initiative focused on preserving Michigan’s digital cultural heritage.
The network uses a combination of software developed at Stanford University to help make digital preservation easier for small and under-resourced institutions with little to no technical expertise
“We’re excited to be a part of preserving Michigan’s local history for all to access,” Library Director Michele P. Howard said. “This project underscores the importance of our shared, collective history and preserving it for future generations.”
TADL’s Assistant Director for Technology, Scott Morey, notes that the technology is open source.
“This network allows us to maintain separate copies of our state’s most precious digital artifacts over a wide geographic area, ensuring access for generations to come,” Morey said. “The servers are run by trusted community anchors which helps ensure the content being preserved will be protected over the long term.”
Other network members include: the Library of Michigan, Michigan State University, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, Wayne State University, Western Michigan University, Capital Area District Libraries, Eastern Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Hillsdale College and Kalamazoo Valley Museum.
Digital preservation is not new to TADL, which houses a regional Local History Collection. This collection includes an archive of over 12,000 digital items and a physical collection of many thousands more.
Melissa McKenna, supervisor of the Local History Collection, notes that these collections represent the history and shared experiences of Grand Traverse County residents.
“The mission of the TADL LHC is to preserve the history of Grand Traverse County and make those stories available in a way that is respectful to the past, engaged with the present, and planning for the future,” McKenna said. “We feel that this partnership with the Michigan Digital Preservation Network is one more way we are fulfilling our mission.”
“Digital preservation shouldn’t be reserved for the institutions with the most money or the best-trained staff. Local historical societies and community archives and museums – many of which share space with their local public libraries – often steward the most unique, one-of-a-kind collections and artifacts,” says MDPN Coordinator Dr. Chelsea Denault. “But for many reasons, these institutions often don’t have the skills or support they need to do robust digital preservation to keep these valuable resources safe. Working with our partners at the Library of Michigan and the DPLA Michigan Service Hub our network will bring accessible and affordable digital preservation to cultural memory institutions of all types in Michigan.”
TADL provides dynamic resources and innovative services to stimulate intellectual curiosity, facilitate lifelong learning, promote literacy, and nurture personal enrichment.
Circulating over 1,300,000 items each year, TADL provides a wide variety of services, including a broad collection of books, digital streaming and downloads, public computers, free WiFi, a Talking Book Library and free programs for all ages.