In this week’s Member Highlight, we hear from Aaron Webster, User Access Librarian at Calcasieu Parish Public Library. Calcasieu recently received an Institute of Museum and Library Science Memory Lab Network Grant, which will provide funding for community digitization stations. The resulting digital content will highlight the culture of southwest Louisiana and will ultimately be accessible on the LDL. Below, Webster shares some of the library’s more immediate plans for digitization.
What types of content do you plan to add to the LDL?
High school yearbooks within Calcasieu Parish mostly for now, but later we intend to also include small individual pieces that highlight the history and culture of Calcasieu Parish (photos, recipes, etc.) through our Memory Lab grant project.
What item are you most excited about adding?
The high school yearbooks are the thing I want to get moved over. The other pieces are part of a project that hasn't really started yet so we're not sure what to expect from it just yet.
Do you have a specific audience/group that you think will be most excited to access your content?
Eventually, I could see anyone interested in the history of Calcasieu Parish wanting to see our material. But for the immediate future it will most likely be limited to those interested in seeing our high school yearbooks.
Do you see your institution as filling a particular gap in the LDL?
I believe so. Most of our content now and going forward is going to be geared specifically to Calcasieu Parish. Our additions in this area are quite likely to be unique.
The LDL team looks forward to the increased accessibility and more complete regional representation this new partnership will offer. Thanks for sharing, Aaron!
