New York Heritage: A portal to New York’s digital collections

In October 2008, the New York 3Rs Association launched its digital heritage Web site, a research portal for students, educators, historians, genealogists and others who are interested in the New York’s history.

Since launch, more than 2000 items have been added with 5000 more expected to be added by summer.

The gateway connects more than 160 digital collections from around the state, contributed by more than 100 libraries, archives, museums and other cultural institutions throughout New York. It also builds on existing digital repository services administered by each of the nine reference and research library resources councils.

NewYorkHeritage.org uses OCLC's CONTENTdm Digital Collection Management Software and its Multi-Site Server to bring these collections together, allowing visitors to search across all items simultaneously. This project provides free, online access to images of cultural and historical significance in New York State.

The New York Heritage Digital Collections consist of a wide variety of materials, including thousands of photographs, postcards, correspondence, manuscripts, oral histories, yearbooks and newspapers. Many kinds of institutions from New York State have partnered to make this project possible, including public, academic and school libraries, museums, archives and historical societies. The power of collaboration is what makes this new service possible.

Participants to New York Heritage Digital Collections are committed to enhancing the site by adding both content and contributing institutions on a regular basis. The goal of the project is to eventually connect one thousand collections and one million items from throughout New York State. All institutions interested in participating in the project are encouraged to contact the 3Rs organization that serves their region.

The New York 3Rs Association is a partnership among New York's nine reference and research resource systems. The New York 3Rs was incorporated in 2003 to further the ability of those systems to provide statewide services. The members of the New York 3Rs Association are: the Capital District Library Council, Central New York Library Resources Council, Long Island Library Resources Council, Metropolitan New York Library Council, Northern New York Library Network, Rochester Regional Library Council, Southeastern New York Library Resources Council, South Central Regional Library Council, and Western New York Library Resources Council.

 

 

(2009 04 14)