Reflections on Margaret Chase Smith Library Site Visit

I would be very surprised if someone with a unique question regarding Margaret Chase Smith could not have it answered at the MCS Library. The 300,000 plus documents and related items contain an enormous amount of information on her life and political career. Angie's (the librarian) efficiency is evident. She can tell you what is included and where it is. She knows what sub-categories people are usually drawn to. Having worked side-by-side with Senator Smith while she was still alive, Angie also has a personal experience angle that somehow makes you feel like Senator Smith could at any time come around the corner to personally greet you herself.

The library is well-organized and well-utilized by all ages from local school children to researchers from across the globe. People will always be fascinated by history. The Kennedy era, the budding space program, McCarthyism and countless other unforgettable American moments can all be linked to this remarkable American Senator. As well, the doors that she opened for future female politicians cannot be understated.

It's crucial to keep research libraries such as this one accessible to the public. This vast repository of knowledge should continue to be available, but eventually certain challenges could arise in the ability to do so. Currently, researchers can access materials onsite or via an online or phone request, after searching on the library's web site to see what is available. This is, of course, helpful as they can narrow down their search quite easily. However, researchers cannot view most of the collection online. That is, if I'm interested in a certain speech, for example, I likely can't find the actual transcript online (with a few exceptions) and I also cannot hear the speech. A few select pieces have been digitized, including some audio, but there are literally hundreds of thousands of pieces of material that have never been digitized.

The need to assure that this magnificent collection will always be around is the theme that has played through my head since my site visit. Yes, some images and other materials are available through the Maine Memory Network. But imagine if this online collection could multiply tenfold!

A life-size replica of Margaret Chase Smith in 1914

 greets visitors!

According to Trevor Jones (2001) in "An Introduction to Digital Projects for Libraries, Museums and Archives," digitized collections:

1. Can be viewed from anywhere at anytime
2. Can be printed
3. Can be located quickly and independently
4. Can save staff time
5. Can increase the collection's use
6. Can facilitate learning 

(Retrieved from http://images.library.uiuc.edu/resources/introduction.htm)

I don't think any of us would argue with those points. But the reality is that there are as many  challenges involved with digitizing a collection as there are benefits. Some of these include:

• Deciding what to digitize. Out of the thousands of photos, letters, scrapbooks, reports, etc. how do you choose?
• The time factor. This is a daunting task and would have to be approached realistically and incrementally. 
• The cost/staff/equipment factor. Deciding who would tackle this project could result in the purchase of the most efficient scanner and digital camera, and perhaps a digital collection management system, if done in house, and likely the hiring of more staff or recruitment of volunteers. The other alternative would be to outsource the project. Either one would be costly.

Time will tell whether the MCS Library will eventually move towards tackling any major digitizing efforts. Meanwhile, concerns will have to be addressed as they arise. When will audiotapes and videotapes become too brittle and fragile to play and what if their related equipment becomes obsolete? How then will these historical moments be preserved? What if images and photographs become too faded to be recognized? Or print becomes too faded to be read?

Margaret Chase Smith once said, "When people keep telling you that you can't do a thing, you kind of like to try it." Digitizing the MCS collection may seem like something that can't be done, but maybe someday someone will try it - a little at a time - for history's sake.

http://www.mainememory.net/artifact/25848