Keeping Our Word: Preserving Information Across the Ages

Keeping Our Word: Preserving Information Across the
Ages

Lissa
Lord
The University of Iowa Libraries
lissa-lord@uiowa.edu

1999

University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA

ACH/ALLC 1999

editor

encoder

Sara
A.
Schmidt

This Web Page is the virtual version of The University of Iowa Libraries' exhibition,
"Keeping our Word: Preserving Information Across the Ages." Most images included are
from the exhibition as shown in North Hall of the Main Library on the University of
Iowa campus from October 1998 to January 1999. The Internet exhibit will remain at
this location for many years to come.
The idea to offer a digitized exhibit seemed an appropriate extension of the North
Hall exhibit topic: Keeping Our Word: Preserving Information Across the Ages. The
exhibit focus was on communication as a process and preservation as a tool. The
digitization of the word seemed compatible with the progress of recorded
communication emphasized in the physical exhibit.
Mounting an exhibit on the Internet is a technique of display that leads to exciting outcomes:
Increased Access: The online exhibit has 24 by 7 visiting hours throughout
the year regardless of university scheduling or weather conditions.
Education and Outreach: Online exhibits allow for versatility in classroom
use of exhibit information.
Expanded Resources: The presence of an exhibit on the Internet extends
both the space and resources available to the visitor.
Images: Online images allow the visitor a close-up view of items displayed
in the exhibit.
Research: Topics discussed in the physical exhibit can be studied in depth
with results reported in the continuing online version.
Marketing: Press releases and announcements of the physical exhibit are
more engaging with the added discussion of a virtual version of the
exhibit.
Copyright: Always, the issue of copyright remains an important topic for
an educational Web site.