2025 Upper Midwest Digital Collections Conference and Minnesota Digital Library

This workshop will explore the critical role cultural heritage staff play in balancing access and long-term preservation to digital content. Practical guidance on appraisal/selecting for preservation, assessment, and advocacy will equip attendees with actionable steps to begin or enhance their preservation efforts. Participants will also gain insights into the current landscape of the field by learning about collaborative models for digital preservation and emerging regional initiatives. Discussion time throughout the session will provide opportunities for participants to explore their current environment and plan for the future.

Attendees of this hands-on workshop will learn about free digital storytelling tools developed by the KnightLab at Northwestern University, including StoryMapJS and TimelineJS. Each participant will be able to work on sample projects using both tools, so they should bring a laptop to use or team up and share with a colleague. While these tools can be used to provide interpretive structure to any digital collection, we will start by using items from the Minnesota Digital Library. Participants will have the opportunity to work with their own digital collections if time allows.

Learn how CONTENTdm, the archival community’s landmark digital collection system, is evolving to help diverse institutions build, preserve, and showcase their digital objects with a hosted solution that maximizes discovery of your unique materials. In this interactive session participants will engage in activities and discussions focused on evaluating existing and potential digital collections workflows that leverage software like CONTENTdm and the collaborative environment of the wider special collections and cultural heritage ecosystem.