FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IMLS Press Contacts
202-653-4628
Kevin O'Connell, koconnell@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov
Washington, DC—The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced today that George Mason University’s Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media (CHNM), partnering with the Balboa Park Online Collaborative (BPOC), has been chosen to help organize the 2012 WebWise Conference on Libraries and Museums in the Digital Age.
Since 2000, the WebWise conference has brought together representatives of museums, libraries, archives, systems science, education, and other fields interested in the future of high-quality online content for inquiry and learning. A signature initiative of IMLS, this annual conference highlights recent research and innovations in digital technology, explores their potential impacts on library and museum services, and promotes effective museum and library practices in the digital environment. It also provides recipients of technology-based grants from the Institute with an opportunity to showcase their exemplary projects.
The theme for the 2012 WebWise conference will be "Tradition and Innovation," as panelists and presenters investigate the use of digital technologies in the humanities, especially history. A variety of IMLS-funded projects will be demonstrated during the conference. The conference will be preceded by a day-long "unconference."
"We are pleased to be working with these two national leaders in the field of technology integration into the services of libraries, museums, archives, and living collections," said IMLS Director Susan Hildreth. "George Mason University and Balboa Park have been at the forefront of some of the very issues that we hope to explore further during our WebWise conference."
Save the Date: WebWise will take place Wednesday through Friday, February 29-March 2, 2012 at the Renaissance Harbor Place in Baltimore, MD.
About George Mason University’s Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
Since 1994, the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media (CHNM) at George Mason University has used digital media and computer technology to democratize history—to incorporate multiple voices, reach diverse audiences, and encourage popular participation in presenting and preserving the past. CHNM uses digital media and technology to preserve and present history online, transform scholarship across the humanities, and advance historical education and understanding. Each year CHNM’s many project websites receive over 16 million visitors, and over a million people rely on its digital tools to teach, learn, and conduct research. To learn more about CHNM, see http://chnm.gmu.edu.
About the Balboa Park Online Collaborative
The Balboa Park Online Collaborative (BPOC) addresses common technological problems faced by museums and performing arts organizations in San Diego’s Balboa Park while improving public access to their rich cultural resources. By emphasizing cooperation among 27 organizations, BPOC improves technical capacity in the park while encouraging cross-institution collaboration—preparing its members to meet the needs and expectations of the 21st century audience. To learn more about BPOC, see http://www.balboapark.org/bpoc/about.
About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.