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| Brandel Library at North Park University. Photograph by Kathleen Gormley. |
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| Aaisha Haykal, University Archivist at Chicago State University Archives and Special Collection, presenting on the POWRR Project. Photograph by Kathleen Gormley. |
The digital preservation talk was given by Aaisha Haykal, University Archivist at Chicago State University Archives and Special Collections, who spoke about her work with the POWRR (Preserving digital Objects With Restricted Resources) Project. Aaisha and CSU were part of the initial team that in 2012-2014 gained funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to investigate, evaluate, and recommend scalable, sustainable digital preservation solutions for libraries with smaller amounts of data and/or fewer resources. Due to the success of that initial project, they received additional funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities Division of Preservation and Access to conduct workshops across the country over the course of 2015-2016.
Aaisha discussed the tools that can help with digital preservation, as seen at the POWRR website's tool grid. There you will find everything from freeware to paid services. Aaisha also talked about the importance of advocating for a digital preservation program at your institution. The POWRR website provides one-pagers with talking points to help archivists advocate to different professionals in their institutions. After Aaisha's presentation, there was a roundtable discussion where several CARA members shared their approaches to digital preservation. Hearing from our colleagues offered a reassuring reminder that we are not alone in facing the challenge of how to assess and preserve digital material.
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| Anna-Kajsa Anderson, Director of Archives and Special Collections at North Park University, stands next to the Skogsbergh Pulpit in the reading room of the F.M. Johnson Archives and Special Collections. Photograph by Kathleen Gormley. |
To conclude the meeting, Kajsa Anderson gave a tour of the F.M. Johnson Archives and Special Collections, which holds the historical records of North Park University and the Evangelical Covenant Church as well as those of the Swedish-American Archives of Greater Chicago. The Archives staff was in the midst of preparations for the 125th Anniversary of the university, so we appreciate their taking the time to show us around.
Many thanks to Aaisha for a wonderfully educational presentation and to Kajsa for hosting the meeting!
