Date: January 18, 2012 2:50:24 PM ESTSubject: gslisfac Queens Memory Project Wins Outstanding Collaboration Citation Award
Dear GSLIS Colleagues and GSLIS Community.
I am delighted to share the below. The Queens Memory Project has been awarded Outstanding Collaboration Citation for the 2012. Ceremony to be featured at this summer's ALA conference in Anaheim. This is a tremendous comment on (if I may) the project's prescient understanding of evolving conceptualization of the archive in the 21st with an equally poignant commitment and dedication to community and collaboration with unity provided by innovative use of emerging technologies. (A true example of the future of the archive). All very capably Directed (really, invented) by GSLIS alum, graduate of the Fellows Program, and current Special Collections and Archives staff member Natalie Milbrodt. Indeed, Natalie deserves the full focus of this recognition.
I would simply add my strong comment that the attribution of award as supported by the comments below confirms the interests this project continues to receive from institutions across the country and around the world.
Finally, and of equal importance, Natalie's continued development of this project highlights the unique opportunities available to students (Fellows) pursuing our course of study - this really sets our program apart.
Again, my congratulations to Natalie and all the students who have made invaluable contributions to this project.
I also include as attachment the Fall Newsletter issued by Department of Special Collections and Archives and which highlights additional activities - all well steered by both graduates of GSLIS Archives Certificate and well shaped by continued work of our outstanding Fellows.It is my very great pleasure to let you know that the Queens Memory Project is the recipient of the ALCTS Outstanding Collaboration Citation award for 2012!
The awards ceremony is on Sunday, June 24, 2012 at 5:30 pm, as part of the American Library Association Annual Conference in Anaheim, CA, exact location TBA. It is a long way to commute, but I hope that each of you, along with the whole city of Queens J, will be there.
Here are some of the jury members’ comments:
“The project meets all three of the OCC award's criteria by developing a project that is likely to become an industry standard; breaking barriers to enable budget conscientious actions (Jason Kucsma of the Metropolitan New York Library Council notes the project's ability to do more with less); the project itself is an innovative product/service that meet an industry need to digitize and preserve local history.”
“[The project] Offers a unique collection that ties multiple materials together with metadata. The partnership involved in the Queens Memory Project is admirable and the future of the project seems exciting.”
“[Particular strengths of the project include] The extent of the collaboration: Not only the two archives (Queens Library & Queens College), but also the Queens Historical Society (noted in the accompanying blog), StoryCorps, and members of the community (invited to share information and tags). Queens College faculty included the project in a course as well. The digitization of existing collections. The Documentation of the project (found in the blog) to allow others to benefit from their experience creating the project. The plans for continuation and expansion of the project.”
“The project showcases collaboration between the Queens Library, the Queens College and, what impressed me the most - the community. The opportunity the draw the public into the project and help them gain ownership of the project is wonderful. I feel this type of collaboration is what will help keep libraries vital and important to the people we serve for years to come. It is a nice model that could be emulated by other institutions. The blog is quite nice that they maintain with the guidelines for interviews, standards, etc.”
“This project was created by a partnership forged between the Queens Public Library, Queens College, an open source software company, and the people of Queens. The efforts of the project to document and digitize the oral histories of the borough's population is impressive, and the project should be lauded for both digitally preserving and cataloging these oral histories.”
Please let me know if you have any questions. Again, congratulations!
Regards,
Elaine Yontz, Chair
ALCTS Outstanding Collaboration Citation Award Jury
Ben Alexander
Assistant Professor, The Graduate School of Library and Information Studies
Director, Archival Studies, The Graduate School of Library and Information Studies
Head of Special Collections and Archives, Queens College Libraries
Queens College, The City University of New York
Benjamin.Alexander@qc.cuny.edu
(718) 997-3757