The Digital Library of Georgia (DLG) serves as a vital online resource, offering a vast collection of documents and media that highlight the rich history and culture of Georgia, United States. With over a million digitized objects from more than 200 collections, the DLG connects users to a wealth of information from various institutions across the state. This article delves into the structure and offerings of the DLG, showcasing its role in preserving
Georgia's heritage.
A Comprehensive Collection
The Digital Library of Georgia is a treasure trove of historical and cultural materials. It includes more than a million digitized objects sourced from over 200 collections related to Georgia. These collections are accessible through the DLG website, which acts as a portal to content from 65 libraries, archives, museums, historical societies, and other institutions. Additionally, the DLG collaborates with 100 state government agencies, further enriching its repository.
Housed at the University of Georgia Libraries in Athens, the DLG boasts a production center dedicated to digitizing various media, including documents, photographs, and microfilm. This extensive digitization effort ensures that Georgia's history is preserved and made accessible to the public, researchers, and educators alike.
Georgia HomePLACE Initiative
A significant component of the DLG is the Georgia HomePLACE initiative, which stands for Providing Library and Archives Collections Electronically. This initiative supports the digitization of family and local history collections held by Georgia's public libraries and allied institutions. Georgia HomePLACE is a partnership between the Georgia Public Library Service and GALILEO, benefiting from funds administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Since its inception in 2004, Georgia HomePLACE has produced approximately 25 new digital collections for the DLG. Notable projects include the Vanishing Georgia photographic collection and the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps for Georgia Towns and Cities, spanning from 1884 to 1922. The initiative also sponsors the digitization of historical newspapers, further contributing to the documentation of Georgia's past.
The Civil Rights Digital Library
The DLG is a lead partner in the Civil Rights Digital Library (CRDL) initiative, launched in 2008. This initiative aims to promote understanding of the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. The CRDL features a digital archive of historical news footage depicting key events of the movement, along with web-based learning objects that provide curricular support and historical context.
The CRDL also offers a civil rights web portal that connects users to related digital collections on a national scale. Supported by a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the CRDL provides a comprehensive timeline of civil rights events from 1954 to 1968, along with background information, archival collections, and educator resources. This initiative underscores the DLG's commitment to preserving and promoting Georgia's rich history and cultural heritage.
