The IMLS is a federal grant making agency located in Washington, D.C., that fosters innovation, leadership and a lifetime of learning, by supporting museums and libraries. The CDP is a collaborative initiative to create a virtual collection of Colorado's special collections. The CDP represents the first statewide implementation of standards for digitization and creation of metadata by these various types of organizations. Furthermore, it plans to show that all four types of institutions can utilize a collaboratively developed set of guidelines for the creation of metadata and scanning, and can agree upon a collection development policy.
Participants feel collaborative efforts capitalize on the strengths of each type of institution.
The availability of digital collections can enhance the public's understanding of the role of libraries and museums in lifelong learning as well as children's education. The expanded project expects to increase the number of institutions contributing digital images to the virtual collection. Grants to more than 30 organizations should be announced in January. Many of these will participate via four regional scan centers that will assist in the technological needs of digitization. Project participants are making a significant contribution to this project.