Overview of Collaboration with the Southern California Library

Haran Sivakumar

Existing Multimedia Use

• Website (soon to be redesigned)

– Embedding of YouTube videos

– Indirectly allows access to external site with close to 80 digital collections

– Online store with SCL merchandise

– PayPal set up for donations

• Facebook page

Overview of Project Goal

• Launch an online educational resource

– Use across grade levels

– Centered on library collections

Goals of the Broader Project

• Increase accessibility of the library’s resources

• Use multimedia to lower the learning curve and the level of intimidation that accompanies academic research

• Optimize project to maximize levels of customization for individual teachers

• Establish the library as a trusted educational resource that is more versatile in its applications

Specific Objective

• Create a website about blacklisted teachers during the McCarthy era

• Incorporate primary documents from the library’s archive

• Provide graphics, timelines, biographies, and background information

Model

• http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/ftrials.htm

• http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/haymarket/haymarket.html

Differences from Model

• Less text heavy, more friendly for those not accustomed to academic research

• Greater emphasis on primary documents• Scan in documents instead of typing copies to preserve the

feeling of a primary source• Video showcasing archive system

• Inclusion of audio files of interviews• Incorporation of films from the era• Videos of interviews with USC professors

providing expert opinion and analysis

Sample Primary Sources

Sample Primary Sources (cont.)

Sample Primary Sources (cont.)

Challenges

• Scope of the project

• Limited time

• On-the-fly training

• Completing the interviews

• Presenting a neutral website

Work Plan/Timeline

Completed:

• Preliminary Project Discussion Feb 25th

• Initial Research completed and began scanning on Feb 26th

Phase 1 - March

• Present website plan and continue scanning on March 3rd

• Finalize website plan and complete scanning on March 10th

• Develop website prototype over Spring

• Film at library and present website on March 22nd

• Revised prototype of website and edited video complete on March 24th

• Finalize prototype of website on March 25th

Phase 2 – April

• Begin marketing website to schools and through teacher unions

• Add extra content to website prototype such as revised backgrounds, more polished graphics, videos of interviews, cassette-converted mp3s, VHS-converted video files, etc.