Forbes Library is pleased to announce that it has been chosen as one of only 15 public libraries nationwide to receive a grant from Community Webs, a two year program to provide education and support for public librarians in the field of web archiving from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Through this grant, the Internet Archive has trained Forbes Library staff on using web archiving software to capture historically valuable web materials documenting our local communities and provided the Library with five years of software and permanent digital storage of materials preserved.
Many public libraries have active local history collections of print materials, but much of the materials, discussion, and documentation of our communities today are increasingly found online. Digital content is, by its very nature, ephemeral. As Brewster Kahle, the founder of the Internet Archive, says "The average life of a web page is 100 days before it's either cleaned or deleted." Archives are embarking on new methods and practices to preserve the histories of their communities as they happen and the Community Webs grant provides a platform for Forbes to develop an archive of digital content. The role of public libraries as a trusted community resource makes them ideally suited to assume a role as information custodians, stewards of digital local history, and community anchors in the age of the web.
Forbes Library plays a unique role in our community because of its resources, staff and programming capabilities and our ability to act as facilitator for collaboration with our partners in the community. We are excited about this opportunity and look forward to collaborating with members of the community to preserve the history being made every day in the region for the benefit of future citizens.
As we embark on this project, we are seeking input from our community partners and the public to answer the question:
What on the internet today should be preserved to best reflect the local community for future citizens and researchers?
Please fill out this form with ideas for particular subjects or websites you think we should consider including in this web archive.
Thank you for taking the time to assist Forbes Library in preserving our community's history. Contact Dylan Gaffney (dgaffney@forbeslibrary.org) for more details.
Forbes Library
20 West Street
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 587-1011www.forbeslibrary.org
