We believe universal information access is the first step to an egalitarian society. The team worked closely with policy makers and analysts at the federal and state level to expose insights from the Digital Nation dataset, helping them arrive at data backed solutions to provide information access for all. Digital Nation data is collated by Bureau of Census by surveying 56,000 households across America on their computer and internet usage. The results of the data analysis will accelerate the goal of expanding Broadband access and adoption in America while ensuring internet remains an engine for continued innovation and economic growth.

The Center on Contemporary Art (CoCA) Digital Archive was created with the goal of cataloging and digitizing slides, posters, audiotapes, videos, photographs and ephemera collected over the past 35 years. We helped CoCA move closer towards that goal by digitizing selected photographic slides and newsletters, cataloging individual items, and posting them onto the CoCA website. We successfully added 9 exhibits from 1990-2002, digitizing and cataloging almost 100 slides, along with several CoCA newsletters (1983-1990). As a result, these exhibits will be accessible to the public, and will hopefully stir more interest to continue digitizing other materials collected by CoCA.

The city of Los Angeles consists of a diverse population sprawled over 500sq. miles. One unifying theme throughout the city is its love of artwork; street art has taken over the city, giving each borough its own culture and attitude. Street art defines the attitude of the citizens and presents a message, unlike graffiti, which is used to promote hate and fear. Many have tried to document the art throughout the city, but almost none have been trusted within the communities. Along with the Los Angeles Public Library, I have worked to begin a digital collection available to the public.

Chainsaw Records and zine were pivotal in defining the queercore movement of the late 1980s and 1990s. Founder Donna Dresch amassed a large collection of press clippings, flyers, posters, and zines over her career as zine author, musician and label owner. Until now, most of the materials were inaccessible and stored insecurely. We organized and digitized the collection, uploaded the files and metadata to a repository server, and sorted the physical materials into archival storage folders. The digitized, safely stored collection is now secure and available for our sponsor, fans, and those interested in queer cultural history.

DiscoverEd is a web application that helps special educators find technology to support students with special needs. Special education programs in the US are on the rise, with 30% growth over the last decade, and encompassing both disability needs and supplemental needs programs. However, special educators struggle to find the right technologies to fit the needs of their students, spending time scouring the internet looking for answers. DiscoverEd will become your closest colleague, learning about your teaching environment and then connecting you to the best technologies for your students, and fostering a collaborative community for like-minded special educators.

Virtualizing the physical for the world to discover.

Intro: Most research projects begin with a hypothesis and end with data confirming or disproving it, but how do you go about a research project in reverse? If the data has already been collected, how can a research team turn it into meaningful information? This presentation covers the process of investigating death images submitted in a university classroom over the past 20 years for general themes and insights on undergraduate perceptions of death.

Dumb Ways to Die… On Mars is a STEAM program, modified and designed to make STEAM programming accessible to underserved and low-income communities. Each component of the project can be done at little to no cost, and participants learn about the engineering process, write a letter to NASA, build a Mars rover, and expand on critical problem-solving skills all to answer the question: how do we, as humans, survive on Mars? The project includes lesson plans, an in-depth PowerPoint presentation, and ELA and math standards, all downloadable for free from an easily-accessible website. Website: http://dumbwaystodieonmars.wordpress.com

This project applies collection development and management methods to improve users’ access to diverse early childhood resources that are relevant, accurate, inclusive, and free of bias. High-quality diverse books that children can both identify with and learn from are key to building an understanding of the world, a respect for its cultures, and in shaping a positive self-identity. As a result of this project, educators will also be able to more efficiently select and utilize resources aligned with their needs, which in turn has a positive impact on students.

In 2007, a group of Washington State Library directors formed the Early Learning Public Library Partnership (ELPLP). The ELPLP worked to create awareness around the role public libraries play in early learning. Because of the organizations work and success, in 2017 Legislatures changed the Early Learning Advisory Council membership to include library representation. Though the ELPLP made great strides for libraries in the early learning world, there was little done to document those efforts. By documenting the creation and work of the ELPLP I hope to provide a point of reference and inspiration for others interested in early learning.