The document discusses the evolution of library special collections in the digital era, focusing on the transition from curator-driven selection to more collaborative and inclusive digitization practices. It emphasizes leveraging existing strengths, allowing broad staff participation, and digitizing materials based on institutional missions and user needs. The text advocates for comprehensive digitization strategies that facilitate access and enable meaningful user engagement with digital collections.

1. it’s not just about curators anymore Special Collections in the Digital Age ACRL RBMS Preconference Los Angeles, CA June 26, 2008 Barbara Taranto New York Public Library Managing Director, NYPL Labs http://labs.nypl.org

2. Change … is good Four butterflies with eggs, larvae, and moths.] ([1850?]) http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?1564955

3. The Mission of the Library

4. Early adopters of digital technology 1995-98

5. Since 1998 ~ 1,000,000 digitized images 650,000 in Digital Gallery 100,000 in Yizkor Büchen – Holocaust Memorial Books 110,000 Chronicling America – Historical Newspapers Digital Archives of Recorded Sound Theatre on Film and Tape Google and MSN – pre-1923 content

6. Most frequently asked questions How do you manage such large projects How do you select what you are going to digitize?

7. Most frequently asked questions How do you manage such large projects Punt What is the selection process?

8. The selection has already been done Best practices already established Strengths of organization already in place Red Herring Herring. (ca. 1885-1895) http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?1571188

9. Emerging Practices Leverage existing collection organization Leverage subject areas of expertise Leverage reputation of institution Leverage years of expertise represented in the catalog

10. That said Collection development that is much broader and distributed than curator driven selection Work with schools, 67th Street Branch : books on display, 'A children's librarian talks about books like these,' June, 1... (1938) http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?465207

11. Distribute the process Allow all levels of staff to contribute to repository Open up digitization queues for discussion Consider UGC streams Allow a variety of digital formats, not just preservation quality materials

12. Some not so subtle tips So obvious. (ca. 1911-1917) http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?1580274

13. Play to existing strengths Digitize according to mission and conspectus Digitize based on strengths Digitize according to existing processes and procedures http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?TH-02834 Circus: Equilibrists

14. Add complementary materials Fill out existing digital collections Fill out subject areas Fill out user generated areas of interest http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?489561 [Interior work, Astor Hall : construction of arches and walls.] (1905)

15. Digitize comprehensively Consider digitization a collection development decision Build out collections Be comprehensive Be authoritative A chicken ranch in California. (ca. 1905) http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?G89F370_009F

16. Digitize on demand Take every opportunity to get content into the repository Public order ILL UGC Aguilar F. C. L., 59th St. Branch, circulation desk http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?100750

17. Decouple selection from presentation Make presentation selections from a pool of digitized materials Avoid the roadblock of indecision Enlarge the pool of options THANKSGIVING DINNER [held by] QUINCY HOUSE [at] "BOSTON, MA" (HOTEL;) (1899) http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?468084

18. Avoid discussions of audience Good enough to collect >> Good enough to digitize Fool’s Game to over worry the audience Unpredictable and may prevent work from going forward that will become useful because it will become “used” Four Useful Knots. (ca. 1903-1917) http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?1135891

19. Digitize unprocessed materials Inventory rather than process Consider the purpose of archival organization – ‘Access’ – what if access is not the last word in the story Love will find a way / words and music by Chas. Shackford. [May Mooney.] ([c1900]) http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?1257037

20. Reduce full force OCD ( Obsessive Compulsive Description) Use paraprofessionals to do brief record creation Use professional staff to add value to records such as subject tracings, item level descriptions, etc. Use machine generated naming schemes A Lasting Machine. http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?95312

21. Access in not King (It is not even Prince) Access is the beginning Using, repurposing, “doing” should be the goal It is no longer good enough to make materials available – we must now consider how our readers want to use our materials and whether we are providing the most that we can to make this happen Di balade fun a "kinder-kemp". (1926) http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?488889