Have you heard of the Digital Public Library of America? If not, this is a great time to get acquainted. As a member of the Audience & Participation workstream, I attended two days of DPLA meetings in Chicago on October 11-12.
One goal of the DPLA is to take content that already exists – especially rich archives of local history that have been digitized across the country — and make it easy to discover and use for people all over the world, whether they are using a computer or a mobile device.
The DPLA is also creating a structure that will make it easier for libraries, museums and other cultural heritage groups across the country — both big and small — to make their unique and historic treasures available to the world.
With a major new funding grant from the Knight Foundation , a newly seated board of directors, and hundreds of highly-energized volunteers, the DPLA is on track to release a the first version of the DPLA platform in Spring 2012.
The DPLA is also looking for its first Executive Director. As one participant put it, someone who wants to get up every morning and ask themselves “How will I help change the world *today*?” Are you as excited about this as I am? If so, please submit your suggestions to the DPLA!
