“A Modern Digital Library of Alexandria”

Preparations are underway for the much-anticipated launch of the Digital Public Library of America. The public unveiling is to occur on April 18^th and 19^th at the Boston Public Library. This ambitious project, envisioned by Harvard University Librarian, Robert C. Darton to be an important step towards “a modern Digital Library of Alexandria”

 

 “will be connecting the riches of America’s libraries, archives, and museums so that the public can access all of those collections in one place”

 

Dan Cohen will serve as the founding Executive Director of the DPLA. Cohen formerly served as the Director of the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media at George Mason University. Though not a Librarian by profession, Cohen:

 

“has led major open source development projects, helped to digitize important works of culture, supported teachers and students in accessing fantastic digital materials, and written about the importance of libraries, archives, and museums in a digital age.”

 

The DPLA promises to do the important work of aggregating many of the silos that currently house digital materials across the nation. The project should also inspire Institutional Repository managers and advocates of Green Open Access to follow suit.

 

Read more about the DPLA and its founding Executive Director here:

http://dp.la/news/

http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/with-new-leader-digital-public-library-of-america-prepares-for-its-debut/42691

http://dp.la/2013/03/08/press-a-digital-library-for-everyone/

http://dp.la/2013/03/05/dan-cohen-named-founding-executive-director-of-the-digital-public-library-of-america/