Presentation and discussion session about collaboration on digital collections, given with Martina Soden (Scranton Public Library) at the Pennsylvania Library Association Northeast Chapter spring workshop on June 13, 2014.

1. Celebrating Our Towns
(and Gowns)
Digital Collections and Collaborations
Martina Soden, Scranton Public Library
Kristen Yarmey, University of Scranton

2. 60 minutes of digital collections fun!
• Who we are, who you are
• Intro to UofS Digital Collections
• Intro to Lackawanna Valley
Digital Archives
• Civil War Collaboration
• Other LVDA collaborative
projects
• Discussion! :D

3. www.scranton.edu/library/digitalcollections
University of Scranton
Special Collections digitization
• Local history books
• Mining reports
• Plotkin Collection
• Zaner-Bloser
• Medieval Manuscripts

4. www.scranton.edu/library/digitalcollections
University of Scranton
University Archives digitization
• Yearbooks
• Aquinas student newspaper
• Course catalogs
• Commencement programs
• Newspaper clippings

6. University of Scranton
Born digital projects
• Theses
• University publications
• PR Photographs
• Terry Connors CDs

7. University of Scranton
Web Archiving

8. 1.85 TB and growing! 
University of Scranton
Digital Preservation

9. About the LVDA
Launched November 2011
‒ 9 Live Collections
‒ Over 5000 Images
‒ Library-Hosted CONTENTdm
‒ Five Community Partners

10. Our Partners
Lackawanna Historical Society
University of Scranton Weinberg Library
Steamtown National Historic Site
Anthracite Heritage Museum
Times-Tribune Newspaper Library

11. ‒ Community Needs
– Lots of Hidden Historical Gems
– Diverse Access Tools
– Preservation vs. Access
– Access Hours to Physical Facilities Limited
--Libraries and Digitization
‒ Libraries Believe in Access
‒ Libraries Embrace Technology
‒ (Subjective Comment): Libraries Are
Better-Funded.

12. LVDA Collections
‒ Celebrating Our Towns: Lackawanna County
Centennial Books and Community Histories
‒ The Story of the Community Medical Center
‒ Natural Disasters in NePA: Hurricane Diane
‒ Friends of the Scranton Public Library Poetry Series
‒ From Lace Makers to Coal Miners: Life in the
Lackawanna Valley 1866-1920

13. Out of the Wildness-The 1st Project
First time working with the partners and
borrowing materials.

14. Civil War
Project
(2011)

15. UofS students dig through LHS archives
Image courtesy of The Scranton Times-Tribune

16. UofS students digitize and transcribe

17. Publication in LVDA!

18. Hurricane Diane
First project funded in house but still using the
partners for materials.

19. The Story of the Community Medical
Center
‒ This was a collection we never expected.
‒ Worked with LHS and CMC on the collection.

20. Celebrating our Towns: Lackawanna
County Centennial Books and Community
Histories
‒ Our newest collection.
‒ Over 30 rare centennial books from
Lackawanna County.

21. Cookbook Project
‒ We have another project that we are waiting
to hear if this will be funded.
‒ Cookbooks from churches and other local
organizations.
‒ Exciting project that focuses on ethnic and
cultural connections.
‒ Plan to scan and digitize at least 30 books
using material from Valley Community Library
and staff.

22. Discussion Seeds
• Are you currently working on digital
collections, or do you have plans to start?
• What kinds of collaborative projects would
you & your patrons be interested in?
• What might your library/community be able
to contribute to a project?
• What help/resources/training would you
need?
• How can we share/promote local history
resources?
• How do we continue the conversation?

23. Thank you!
Questions?
msoden@albright.edu
kristen.yarmey@scranton.edu