The Digital Revolution has affected nearly every aspect of library and museum services, from the automation of internal recordkeeping systems to the digitization of physical collections, and from the acquisition of new “born-digital” works of art or library publications to the use of technology to present collections and engage audiences.

Digital technology enables the full range of holdings in our museums, libraries, and archives—audio, video, print, photographs, artworks, artifacts, and other resources—to be cataloged, organized, combined in new ways, and made accessible to audiences in new ways. The rich scientific, historic, aesthetic, and cultural resources in our libraries and museums can be presented, both within and across institutions, within an interpretive and educational context that enriches meaning.

New telecommunications initiatives allow learners to access more than museum and library collections. They also bring learners “face-to-face” electronically with curators, scientists, artists, and scholars. Technology-based learning initiatives address different learning needs through customized programming and presentation. Digital technology connects more people to the resources and services that only museums and libraries can provide.

Recognizing the expanding role of digital technology in both formal and informal learning, IMLS is advancing its use in our nation’s museums and libraries through grantmaking, conferences, and publications.This section of the IMLS Web site has been developed to highlight IMLS activities in this area. Select from:

Related Resources | Related Conferences | Grant Programs | View Awarded Digital Projects

Connecting to Collections: The National Tour: Collaboration in the Digital Age
This program—organized in cooperation with Heritage Preservation, the Colorado Historical Society, the Denver Public Library, and the Denver Art Museum—is part of Connecting to Collections: A Call to Action, an IMLS initiative to save endangered collections in the nation’s museums and libraries. Held on June 24 and 25, 2008 in Denver, CO, “Collaboration in the Digital Age” responded to the needs of museums and libraries by helping them think strategically and collaboratively about digitization and digital preservation. Consult the Glossaryand the Care of Audio-Visual Materials and Care of Digital Materials sections of the Guide to Online Resources for links to additional information sources.

WebWise 2008 Proceedings Book (PDF, 1.7MB)
The ninth annual WebWise Conference was held in Miami Beach, Florida, March 5-7, 2008. The theme for this year's conference was "WebWise 2.0: The Power of Community." Sessions featured library and museum leaders as well as experts outside of the cultural heritage community who stimulated conversation and reflected on the challenges posed by emerging technologies. The Proceedings Book provides summaries of each session, full text of conference keynotes, and more.

WebWise 2007 Proceedings Book (PDF, 2.6MB)
The eighth annual WebWise conference, cosponsored by IMLS, OCLC, and the J. Paul Getty Trust, was held February 28–March 2 in Washington, D.C. This year’s theme was “Stewardship in the Digital Age: Managing Museum and Library Collections for Preservation and Use." The Proceedings Book provides summaries of each session, full text of conference keynotes, and more.

Status of Technology and Digitization in the Nation's Museums and Libraries
In 2001, the Institute conducted the first-ever study of the status of new technology adoption and digitization in the nation’s museums and libraries.This second study seeks to dig deeper and find out more about how and why our cultural institutions use technology and digitize their collections.

Digital Resources for Cultural Heritage: A Strategic Assessment Workshop on Current Status and Future Needs (PDF, 937 KB)
Report and recommendations stemming from an Institute sponsored workshop of 63 specialists from 26 states representing libraries, museums, archives, higher education institutions, public broadcasting, research consortia, public and private funding organizations, and service providers. The report assesses progress and plans for the development and use of digital cultural resources.

Assessment of End-User Needs in IMLS-Funded Digitization Projects (PDF, 617 KB)
An Institute commissioned study of the needs-assessment practices used in digitization projects.

A Framework of Guidance for Building Good Digital Collections
Identifies principles of good practice and current standards in four areas: collections, digital objects, metadata, and digital projects. The Framework was developed with Institute support and is maintained by the National Information Standards Organization.

Report of the Workshop on Opportunities for Research on the Creation, Management, Preservation and Use of Digital Content (PDF, 277 KB)
The University of Florida, Florida Center for Library Automation, convened a workshop in March 2003 to assess research needs related to digital cultural content. This report summarizes the results of the workshop and presents suggestions for useful areas of research.

Status of Technology and Digitization in the Nation's Museums and Libraries - 2001
A study of the use of technology and digitization activities in libraries and museums nationwide.

WebWise 2009
Digital Debates. February 25-27, 2009

WebWise 2008
WebWise 2.0: The Power of Community. March 5-7, 2008

WebWise 2007
Stewardship in the Digital Age. February 28-March 2, 2007

WebWise 2006
Inspiring Discover, Unlocking Collections. February 15-17, 2006

WebWise 2005
Teaching and Learning with Digital Resources. February 2005

WebWise 2004
Sharing Digital Resources. March 2004

IMLS grant programs that fund digital projects:

• Museums for America
• National Leadership Grants

This database of IMLS-supported digital projects provides a quick look at the work of libraries and museums in the digital world. These projects are categorized into three areas:

Digital Collections: Model projects that help preserve library resources, develop best practices for digitization, and digitize collections of national value are listed here. These projects, taken as a whole, show the gradual development of digitization practices and represent a significant set of digital content now available to the public. (Please also see the IMLS Digital Collections Registry. This gateway to to the digital collections funded through the IMLS National Leadership Grant Program is maintained by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.)

Learning Innovations: Projects that focus on using digital technology to enhance learning are listed in this category. Museums and libraries created these projects to provide new learning opportunities via on-line programs.

Research and Tools: Projects that further interoperability, integration, seamless access to digital resources, understanding of on-line user needs, and preservation of digital media or that provide tools to enhance libraries' and museums' use of digital technology are listed here.