Geospatial Mapping of Library Preservation developed a tool for visualizing, analyzing, and prioritizing preservation needs across Harvard’s libraries using geospatial mapping technology. By overlaying preservation data with campus maps, one can illustrate “hot spots”, such as: concentration of vulnerable AV media, libraries with greatest “born digital” content in need of preservation, and areas with inadequate environmental controls. That data can be combined with data from Cognos and HOLLIS to further the preservation need based on the size of various collection materials. As the project has evolved, it has become clear that it can accommodate all kinds of data — for the libraries, for Harvard, or for any geographic location.

Project Team: 

Brenda Bernier
James Needham Chief Conservator
Head of Weissman Preservation Center

Justin Clark
Web Applications Developer
Berkman Center for Internet & Society