August 20, 2013 Library of Congress Digital Preservation Program To Be Offered in Alaska

The Digital Preservation Outreach and Education network in the Library of Congress (DPOE) and the Elmer E. Rasmuson Library at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) are jointly sponsoring a ”Train-the-Trainer” event in Fairbanks, Alaska, Aug. 27-29.

Trainees will focus on digital content; they will learn how to identify, select, store, protect, manage and provide access to it. They will take an inventory of their digital content and identify their digital preservation needs. After completing a three-day, in-person workshop, each attendee will officially become a DPOE trainer with the goal of training others throughout Alaska. DPOE’s partners at UAF made a special effort to get stewards of Alaskan native collections to come to the event, offering travel subsidies to some attendees funded in part by the State Library of Alaska.

Launched in 2010, DPOE seeks to foster national outreach and education about digital preservation by building a network of instructors and partners across the country. This network provides training for those wishing to preserve their digital content. The DPOE training network has grown to 63 regional trainers across the nation. The Train-the-Trainer program aims to increase that number by providing instructors with research, course promotion, logistical assistance and training materials.

Established in 1922, the Elmer E. Rasmuson Library has the largest library collection in the state of Alaska.

Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution. The Library seeks to spark imagination and creativity and to further human understanding and wisdom by providing access to knowledge through its magnificent collections, programs, publications and exhibitions. Many of the Library’s rich resources can be accessed through its website at www.loc.gov.