Hear how Drake University’s 125-year history is preserved

During a recent Web presentation, Bart Schmidt, Digital Projects Librarian at Drake University’s Cowles Library shared his experiences in digitizing and preserving Drake University’s 125-year history. 

More than 30,000 photographs, articles and oral histories from eyewitnesses, held in the Cowles Library Special Collections, were digitized to create the Drake Heritage Collections. Built using CONTENTdm Digital Collection Management Software, they consist of 12 digital collections and include a range of materials from the Drake University's Yearbooks and Pulitzer Prize winner Jay Norwood 'Ding' Darling’s editorial cartoons to the music of Drake University’s bands.

As part of his presentation, Bart explained how he integrates Google Maps with CONTENTdm and the Historic Des Moines digital collection featuring 200 photographs of homes, parks and public places taken between 1904 and 1914. As a result, library users get a new perspective on the special collections and its unique value to the community. Bart also offered a quick online tutorial of how to create a Google Map and integrate it into an online digital collection.

Additionally, Bart talked about some of the creative ways he markets the Digital Heritage Collections to the Drake University campus, the Des Moines community, Iowa residents and worldwide.

The Webinar recording

The Webinar recording is now available for online viewing and includes a 10-minute introduction to CONTENTdm by Ron Gardner, OCLC Digital Library Consultant.

Drake Heritage Collections presentation [WebEx recording - 56 minutes]
Bart Schmidt, Digital Projects Librarian
Drake University

View the Drake Heritage Collections

(2009 10 27)