Choosing a Digital Repository

In addition to the Digital Imaging project talked about over the last few blogs, I will also be responsible for the presentation of a digital repository in my LS 566 Metadata class. Now there are a ton of really great digital repositories out there across the web, covering a wide variety of subject matter, and differing greatly in the manner in which images are presented and described, so the task of choosing just one can be a little bit overwhelming. Also a consideration is the requirements for our presentation, which include identifying information such as: the metadata schema and content standards utilized, any digitization standards noted, and features like whether the metadata records are included in any online catalogs or aggregators. This means that any "ideal" choice for this assignment will probably include quite a bit of detailed, "under-the-hood" type information on the site itself, or at least be prominent enough that those characteristics would be mentioned by any outside sources discussing the site. So how to go about choosing?

With the aid of a few links from our professor, I was off in search of a good digital image repository. As someone who has an avid interest in history, I was hoping to find something with a distinctly historical bent, maybe with pictures from the Civil War, or a similar era. After a few keyword searches, though, I came up with a collection that sounded fairly intriguing, housing a variety of governmental posters from World War II. The World War II Poster Collection from the Government and Geographic Information and Data Services Department at the Northwestern University Library (isn't that a mouthful?) is a digital collection of over 300 posters issued by various governmental agencies during the period of the second World War that were intended to help maintain the morale and resolve of the American people during that great conflict. I always find it interesting to see the values and priorities that were emphasized in documents from the past, so the process of browsing through this repository has been an interesting experience so far. Also interesting, from a library and information studies perspective, is the integration of the collection's records with the cataloging systems of both Northwestern University, as well as OCLC. Taking a closer look at the mechanics underlying these records, and the makeup of the repository, will be a big part of my assignment going forward, and I will be sure to post my progress in this direction.

If you've never taken a look at World War II posters before, they are definitely an interesting part of Americana, so take a few minutes to browse if you get a chance.