Meet Me at the Fair - Digitally!

"Meet Me at the Fair" has been the favorite saying for millions of people around the world since the mid 19th Century. World's fairs - often called international expositions - are held to show off the latest in technology, the arts, even agriculture. The fairs are entertaining and educational as well. They allow visitors to see the world in a unique and wondrous way. Now, thanks to the University of Maryland, those who love world's fairs, and researchers who want to know more about them, will have a wonderful resource just a click away. Architecture Library Curator Patti Cossard, along with the University of Maryland libraries, has been working for five years to digitize photographs, graphics and essays in the library's special collection of world's fair materials. "Starting in 2001, we began a process of digitizing our collection comprehensively," says Cossard. "It focuses on the 1876 (Philadelphia Centennial Exposition) and the 1904 (St. Louis "Louisiana Purchase Exposition") fair." The new digital library - A Treasury of World's Fair Art & Architecture - will offer cataloging data, known as "metadata," so that "people can come in and access more and more parts of our collection," says Cossard. This digital library is just part of a growing resource of digital collections offered by the University of Maryland's libraries. Scanning activities in the University of Maryland Libraries includes sophisticated equipment - and scanners you might find at home. U.S. fairs are a particular strength of this Maryland special collection. But beyond the large number of books, the Architecture Library curator says there are many primary materials like "graphics, photographs, postcards, posters, trade cards... as well as some pamphlets and materials." Cossard says that while other universities have world's fair collections, most focus on just one particular fair. "What makes us unique is that we are the only authoritative collection... that does all the fairs. So if you want a comprehensive view, we are the research place to go." Click for a slideshow of the World's Fair Special Collection. Along with the digital library project, a proposal is also on the table to create a national traveling show to highlight the collection. Art Librarian Louise Greene is working with Cossard to make that a reality. Newsdesk recently sat down for "A Conversation With..." Architecture Library Curator Patti Cossard. Read more about the World's Fair Special Collection, the new Treasury of Art and Architecture - World's Fairs digital archives, and more =>

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