New Collections from the University of Utah

These collections were previously harvested into MWDL, but we just created some web pages to showcase them. Check out some great oral histories, missionary diaries in Japan, manuscript collections focused on Utah history, architectural drawings, and more!

• H. Grant Ivins Papers 
• Nelson Higgins Papers
• Interviews with Jews in Utah
• Everett Ruess Family Papers
• Everett L. Cooley Oral History Project
• George Cannon Young Architecture
• Joseph Ellis Johnson Papers
• Thomas Jefferson O'Brien Journals
• Golden Spike Oral History Papers
• University of Utah Daughters of the American Revolution Papers

New self-guided curriculum for digitization

As part of the Public Library Partnerships Project over the last year and a half, Mountain West Digital Library staff and partners helped design, prepare, and present training modules about digital skills training. MWDL was one of four Service Hubs in the Digital Public Library of America to participate in this national project. 

First we presented the trainings at three workshops for public librarians, two in Utah and one in Montana, as part of the MWDL network's assistance to public libraries in digitizing and sharing their collections online. Then, along with staff from the other Service Hubs, we recorded the best-of-the-best of the training modules for online distribution nationally. 

Many thanks go to Anna Neatrour, who as MWDL Metadata Librarian created a wonderful metadata section and contributed to much of the rest of the curriculum as well. We are also grateful to Jennifer Birnel, the project director of the Montana Memory Project, who helped make the workshop in Montana a great success and participated in the recording round. Thanks also go to Rebekah Cummings, who helped create and present many sections of the curriculum during her service as MWDL Assistant Director/Outreach Librarian. Key contributions to the digital reformatting module came from Matt Brunsvik from University of Utah Marriott Library and Catherine McIntyre and Brent Seavers from Utah Valley University. Together we are very proud to have been part of this important project and to now be able to share these training resources!

For more information about the new curriculum materials, or about the Public Library Partnerships Project, see the announcement from DPLA at http://dp.la/info/2015/10/07/new-self-guided-curriculum-for-digitization/.  Please use, re-use, and distribute these materials freely!

New Collections from the Salt Lake City Library and the Lifestory Library Foundation

Today we have two more new collections to highlight. Both of these collections were supported by expanded funding offered to MWDL partners through DPLA, with one being a Public Library Partnerships Collection and the other from our recent round of Digital Services Mini Contracts.

Both of these partners worked with the great team in Digital Operations at the J. Willard Marriott Library.

The Salt Lake City Library collection features postcards, a historical reflex of Salt Lake City, and the Official Coat of Arms of Salt Lake City!

If you like oral histories, you will enjoy browsing the Life Story Library collection of audio files, photos, and documents that tell personal histories.

Congratulations to everyone who worked on these collections!

Sharks in MWDL

It is Shark Week! What can we find in MWDL about sharks?

Here is a photo of a Man standing with dead shark from Brigham Young University's incredible Edward K. Bryant Photo Collection.

Man standing with dead shark

Here is a photo from University of Nevada Reno Special collections of crew members hoisting a shark during a Mexican fishing cruise.

Haida crew members hoisting a shark

Does this silverware from the University of Utah's College of Architecture and Planning collection remind you of sharks?

"Shark" Pattern silverware

Jack London took photos of sharks during his voyage on the Snark! You can see more information about Jack London materials in Utah State University Special Collections in this finding aid Guide to the Jack London photograph collection 1905-1955. Then take a look at some examples from the Jack London Collection!

MWDL Partner Football Rivalry as seen in Vandal Football Program Covers Collection

We recently added this wonderful collection of Vandal Football Program Covers from the University of Idaho. I thought it would be fun to find some examples of MWDL partner institutions playing against each other, like this example where we have Idaho playing against Montana State (coming to MWDL via the Montana Memory Project)

Football Program. Idaho - Montana State, 11/20/1965, Neale Stadium, Moscow (Idaho)

 University of Idaho vs Utah State University

Football Program. Idaho - Utah State, 11/09/1957, Romney Stadium, Logan, (Utah)

University of Idaho vs the University of Utah

University of Utah, 10/30/1954, University of Utah Stadium, Salt Lake City (Utah)

University of Idaho vs Weber State

Idaho - Weber State College, 11/06/1965, Wildcat Stadium, Ogden (Utah)

University of Idaho vs Arizona State University (via the Arizona Memory Project), this hilarious cover promises "Mashed Idahoes Comin' Up!"

Idaho - Arizona State, 09/28/1957, Goodwin Stadium, Phoenix (Arizona)