Now That’s Digital!
http:/tides.sfasu.edu
Christine Hennessey, Digital Projects Librarian
R. W. Steen Library, Stephen F. Austin State University
Amigos Conference, May 6 2009

What is TIDES?

1.
A free online database of digital resources available
to researchers, teachers, and the general public.

2.
A web based interface that facilitates collaboration
between and across research topics
and discipline fields.

3.
A model for library service that fills the needs of
diverse user groups in new and innovative ways.

A History of Collaboration
• Founded in 2002 as a way to digitize East
Texas resources.
• 2005 – IMLS grant allows for new
partnerships and expands resources in
TIDES database.
• 2007 - Educators are hired to create
lessons using TIDES materials & Digital
Projects department is created.

Partner Institutions
• The TIDES database
consists of documents,
images and videos
gathered from partnering
institutions.
• Partnerships are mutually
beneficial.
• Digital images link back to
original sources. Image from
Tyler Museum of Art

TIDES Partners
East Texas Research Center
The Sterne-Hoya
House Museum
and Library
The Stone
Fort Museum
Instituto de Idioma y Cultura en Cuernavaca

TIDES Database
• CONTENTdm allows
resources to be
organized and
accessible.
• Over 22,000 primary
source documents and
images.
• Currently organized into
24 collections.

Digital Gateways to Information
• Diverse user groups demand diverse
portals to information.
• User-friendly metadata is a must for
access.
• Instructional videos and Web 2.0
technologies work to bridge digital and
cultural divides.

Collaborating with Educators
• TIDES works with local and
international educators to
gather feedback and input.
• We contract educators to
create lesson plans based
on TIDES materials.
• And we’ve developed a
portal geared specifically
toward teachers using the
site.

TIDES for Teachers
• Free lesson plans written
and tested by teachers.
• Virtual expeditions and art
activities available.
• Resources for educators:
instruction, employment, p
rofessional development.

TIDES Student Portals
• Currently in beta.
• Elementary, Middle and
High school.
• Predefined searches,
TIDES Guides, and links
to evaluated resources.
• A place for students to
experiment with
technology.

SFASU Institutional Repository
• In process of becoming a
place to publish and store
work and research for SFA
community.
• SFA partners: Humid (literary
journal); Herpetology
collection; art department.
• Unlimited CONTENTdm
allows for unlimited
possibilities.

TIDES 2.0
• Embrace Web 2.0!
• Reaching more
(younger!) user groups.
• Sharing resources in
different venues.
• Networking with
colleagues & staying
current.

The TIDES Blog
• Behind-the-scenes look
at Digital Projects.
• Updated with info about
conferences, events and
new resources.
• Includes reviews of &
links to other education
& library related sites.

The End. Thanks!
http://tides.sfasu.edu