The University of Denver and Denver Art Museum will co-host the 2010 WebWise Conference on Libraries and Museums March 3–5 at the Hyatt Regency at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.
The theme “Imagining the Digital Future” will address the successes and innovations of the past as well as the opportunities and challenges that can help drive museum and library sciences into the future.
“WebWise is a nationally visible showcase for innovators and leaders in the field of cultural heritage digitization,” says Greg Colati, digital initiatives coordinator at DU.
“Bringing WebWise to DU further establishes DU’s position as a leader in cultural heritage digitization on a national level.”
Each year, approximately 350 representatives of museums, libraries, archives, information and systems science and other fields interested in the future of high-quality online content for inquiry and education attend the free conference, sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
“The IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums,” says Anne-Imelda Radice, director of the IMLS. “The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas.”
Penrose Library Dean Nancy Allen, will welcome attendees at the opening March 4. Colati will moderate a presentation titled “The Future of Information Delivery: New Tools and Services for Discovery and Access.”
He says the group will talk about how digital content can be packaged, repackaged, and otherwise made available for users to discover and experience in ways that are innovative.
Other topics will include interoperability, the future of collaboration, standards and best practices, technology and systems development and training a 21st Century cultural heritage information workforce and strategies to more deeply engage audiences.
“All projects supported by the IMLS and showcased at WebWise are dedicated to open access to information to support the public good,” Colati says. “Hosting the conference supports the mission of the University to be a great private university dedicated to the public good.”