Discover PA Photos & Documents
Explore a wide array of Pennsylvania’s rich historical and cultural heritage through PA Photos & Documents. Whether you’re an educator, student, researcher, or history enthusiast, our digital repository provides valuable resources that cater to diverse interests and scholarly pursuits.
Benefits of Participation
By contributing to PA Photos & Documents, institutions gain increased visibility and access to their collections. This collaborative effort not only shares Pennsylvania’s cultural heritage but also provides educational resources for future generations. Participants can also leverage the platform’s advanced search capabilities and extensive reach through connections with the Digital Public Library of America.
Participating institutions play a crucial role in the management and accessibility of their collections. Their responsibilities include appointing a collection manager, who serves as the primary contact for all related inquiries. These institutions are tasked with digitizing materials, ensuring they are of high quality, and maintaining these digital assets over time. Additionally, they must assign metadata to their materials in accordance with best practices established by PA Photos & Documents (PaPD).
On the other hand, the POWER Library offers significant support to these institutions. It provides a secure server facility for data storage, although contributors are reminded that PaPD is not intended for preservation; therefore, it is essential for them to retain copies of both the metadata and files they submit. The POWER Library ensures 24/7 access to data via any web browser, hosts a dedicated homepage for each collection, and enables users to search through collections using keywords. Furthermore, it facilitates the discovery of collections not only within the USA but also globally through the Digital Public Library of America, enhancing the reach and visibility of participating institutions’ collections.
Join the Community
Become part of a growing community dedicated to sharing and promoting Pennsylvania’s historical and cultural legacy. Engage with fellow librarians, archivists, and historians to share insights and best practices.
Wondering if your collections are eligible? Fill out this questionnaire.
To join our team today, please Submit an application!
Need more information or have questions? Contact us!
We look forward to welcoming you to PA Photos & Documents!
