
I had heard the content management software product CONTENTdm mentioned in my courses at SLIS, but I was still surprised again to find out that this was another OCLC product. Curious about what possibilities lie in this product, I went in search for more information.
I found that the Chicago Public Library's Digital Collection of photographs is using the CONTENTdm platform. This woodcut represents a scene in the Chicago library's book room that was housed in a water tank in the late 1800s. The room was fireproof and could store over 3,000 volumes. I love history and have spent time in Chicago with friends. I found myself flipping through the photos, trying to see places I had visited there. I had to break myself away to write this blog posting. Here are some notes on what I found.
CONTENTdm helps facilitate the creation of an online digital repository by helping to store, manage and deliver digital files on the Web. I read in my research of the product that CONTENTdm uses the same search mechanisms as WorldCat does. I am still trying to find out more about those search mechanisms for another blog. Stay posted.
Also in my initial findings is that CONTENTdm protects the photographs from being linked or copied. I wanted to include a photo, so I attempted to right-click on the image and save it. This was not possible. This, however, does make sense to me. Of course, the Chicago Public Library would want to protect their digital materials! CONTENTdm offers this protection on this site by not allowing the user to save the image. I am sure that other sites that include audio provide similar protections by streaming their audio.
I noticed the similarity of some of the fields on the Chicago Public Library page to Dublin Core fields I am learning about in 551. I see that there is a title, subject, description and more for each of the records. I checked with OCLC, and CONTENTdm does use Qualified Dublin Core to describe objects held in the collections.
Another feature that I found to be helpful is that each of the subject headings and terms are hyperlinked, so that other materials can be discovered. There are subject headings from many different kinds of sources, including LCSH. I believe that hyperlinking of items is a great way to allow users to browse a digital collection of photographs.
CONTENTdm appears to be a strong tool for digital libraries. I hope to get my own behind-the-scenes view of this software sometime in my studies at SLIS. Perhaps I will find a practicum that incorporates the use of CONTENTdm!
Sources:
Chicago Public Library Digital Collections. (2009). Retrieved November 18, 2009, from Chicago Public Library, http://www.chipublib.org/images/index.php
Anonymous. (1873). Bookroom in the old Watertank [Woodcut]. Chicago Public Library Archives. Retrieved from http://digital.chipublib.org/u?/woop,80
Anonymous. (1940). Chicago Public Library Bookmobile Service [Photograph]. Chicago Public Library Archives. Retrieved from http://digital.chipublib.org/u?/woop,2
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