The New York Public
Library Digital Gallery
Database Guide
Scott
Dooley – IPS Media Specialist
Creation Date - 03/29/05
Learn how to search the
database
What can you do with
these pictures?
Lewis Wickes
Hine Inquiry project using this database
INTRODUCTION
The database I selected is a very new and
truly remarkable collection of images from the NYPL Digital Gallery. The New York Public Library (NYPL)
Digital Gallery provides free public access to over 275,000 images digitized
directly from primary sources and printed matter contained within their
extensive collections. The purpose
of this database is to provide completely free access to historical and
cultural documents on an astounding array of topics areas. Each photograph, print, manuscript, map,
poster, or miscellaneous print item, is meticulously documented and referenced
by year, photographer, collection, library division, and includes a physical
description of the size and type of media.
More importantly, nearly every image contains keyword references as
well; if that image happens to belong to a collection of similar images, the
link is provided to view the entire collection as well as other photographs
that correspond to those keywords.
Audience
The target
audience for this database is exceptionally broad, but it would primarily be
used by teachers, artists and photographers, students (from grade 3-Grad
School), and basically anyone who conducts any type of historical
research.
Features
This database is
exceptional for many, many reasons.
The quality and diversity of the NYPL library collection is staggering,
and this is only a small chunk of their overall holdings; the goal for the
database is to eventually have half a million or more images total. There are very few places on the web
with such easy, unfettered access to so many primary source artifacts from the
past. The scans of the documents
are usually so clear that you can usually deduce what type of media the
artifact is originally printed on. The other major strong point for this database
is the fact that it is very well organized and extremely navigable. In addition to the simple searches with
all the standard operators, there are also seventy different collections with
hundreds of photos linked together by a common theme. There is also a subject index that is
exceptionally easy to use. Because
the tools for mining the data from this site are so simple and yet very
powerful, it is very easy for children in grades 3 and up to use this database
meaningfully. I would say that with
teacher moderated instruction, a teacher could show genuine primary source
materials to students in K – 2 as well, and they certainly would be
capable of browsing through a collection of images on their own. The database has a great feature called
“Selections” which allows you, without using a login name (if
cookies are enabled in your browser), to store fifty different images from the
digital gallery. This is ideal for
teachers who can go in and grab content, save it to their Selections, and then
simply have students browse those photographs for a particular assignment or
research into a particular topic area.
I am worried that some content may be unsuitable for very young children
who are just browsing randomly through the database. Since the emphasis with this collection
is on documenting and recording the artifact as well as the historical context
of the artifact, there may be some inappropriate language or stereotypes in
some photographs. Also some of the collections, such as “Cigarette Cards: ABCs” for example,
are probably not in the best interest of younger students.
The major
weakness of the database in my opinion is really nothing more than a minor
annoyance; I do not like the fact that there are only twelve thumbnails per
page. Some collections have more
than 20,000 pictures, and viewing each twelve at a time is a bit tedious.
Luckily the search tool for the database is very robust and allows you to
narrow your search enough to compensate for this flaw. I also wish you could
zoom in further on many of the images.
I’d like to be able to see even more detail.
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