Digital Collections Stewardship 2025-26

• Do you work with historic collections and want to enhance your knowledge of the digital collections lifecycle?
• Do you want to feel more confident about creating digital collections that support the goals of your organization and the priorities of your community?
• Do you work with archival collections or local history collections but do not have formal archival training?
• Do you enjoy contributing to discussions, and learn better in small group settings?

For the second year, the Colorado State Library (CSL) is leading participants through Digital Collections Stewardship, a free online course from OCLC/Webjunction designed specifically to support the needs of small cultural institutions. CSL is seeking staff members at Colorado and Wyoming libraries, museums, archives, and historical societies who want to enhance their digital collections knowledge by participating in a 9-month facilitated peer group learning experience from August 2025 through April 2026.

Submit your application now through July 14, 2025.

What past learners have said

• This course was helpful. It let me know our institution isn’t alone in some of the struggles we are facing.
• I really appreciated what I was able to attend – and appreciate the flexibility to watch enrichment programs later. The small group was especially enlightening – to connect with peers, share frustrations and excitements.
• Having the guest speakers in during the enrichment sessions was hugely beneficial. I also liked being able to discuss our individual challenges and ideas in the small group meetings.
• I thought this course was incredible. Like most things the people made it a great experience. The large group enrichment meetings were great and I felt that I learned a lot of useful skills and forged connections with a variety of people across the state.

Why consider joining?

Professional growth. This course is designed for beginner- and intermediate-level library, archival, museum and collection professionals; however, the peer learning model is valuable for learners of all levels. 

Expansive scope. The Digital Collections Stewardship course will take you through the entire lifecycle of digital stewardship, going beyond technical training in digitization and metadata to address organizing, managing, preserving, and sharing digital collections.

Peer engagement. The interactive, discussion-based learning model will help you stay motivated, build connections, learn from your peers, and share your own knowledge as you work towards completing the online course.

Expert support. The group’s facilitators—Leigh Jeremias and Amy Hitchner from CSL—will keep you on track by facilitating group discussions and filling in learning gaps, while enrichment content from guest speakers will add context to what you learn.

Hands-on practice. This experience is designed to strengthen your knowledge of digital collections while giving you the opportunity to practice what you learn. You are encouraged to apply the relevant aspects to your digital collections workflow, then share your experiences with your group.

Project Outline

Complete WebJunction’s Digital Collections Stewardship online course

August 2025 – April 2026

The course consists of 8 units. Each month, you will complete a self-directed walkthrough of each unit (1-2 hrs each), then meet virtually with your peer learning group (facilitated by a CSL consultant) to discuss the unit and its associated activities. A second virtual meeting each month will include enrichment content, like guest speakers, to expand and contextualize what you learn.

• Kickoff Meeting (Aug. 2025)
• Introduction (Sep. 2025)
• Preparing (Oct. 2025)
• Gathering (Nov. 2025)
• Community Collecting (Dec. 2025)
• Digitizing (Jan. 2026)
• Enhancing (Feb. 2026)
• Saving (Mar. 2026)
• Sharing (Apr. 2026)

Timeline

• June 16 – July 14, 2025: Accepting applications
• July 16, 2025: Applicants will be notified
• August 2025: Kickoff meeting (date TBD)
• September 2025 – April 2026: Complete the Digital Collections Stewardship course. Participate in peer group meetings and enrichment meetings.

Logistics and Group Expectations

• All meetings will be held virtually over Google Meet.
• We will meet twice a month: one small group meeting and one enrichment meeting.
• Meetings will be scheduled within normal working hours—up to 5:00 pm (MST), but no late evenings or weekends. Exact times will be determined with participant input.
• Since our meetings rely on group discussion and engagement, we ask that participants be ready to talk with their cameras on.
• All meetings will be recorded and shared with participants.
• A mailing list will be available for communication and peer support.

Monthly Activities

• One course module and workbook activities (completed individually)
• One small group meeting to discuss the course
• One enrichment meeting for all participants
• Independent work applying course content to your digital collections workflow

How to join/apply

• Fill out this short application, which asks for basic information about your title and organization, goals, and experience level.
• The application period is June 16 – July 14, 2025. Applicants will be notified by July 16, 2025.

Meet your facilitators

Leigh Jeremias is the Digital Collections Senior Consultant for the Colorado State Library where she manages the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection and the Plains to Peaks Collective, the Colorado-Wyoming Service Hub of the Digital Public Library of America. Leigh has over 24 years experience working to make historical collections more accessible to the widest audience possible. She has extensive experience in the development, care and refinement of archival and digital collections as well as knowledge of several collection management databases, metadata schemas and aggregation, copyright and risk assessment, and project management. Prior to working at the State Library, Leigh worked at History Colorado and the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia. In her current role she works to expand state and national access to all types of historic collections found at both small and large cultural heritage institutions.

Amy Hitchner is the Metadata and Integration Services Senior Consultant for the Colorado State Library, where she manages CVL Collections, a program that helps small cultural heritage organizations get their digital collections online using the Omeka platform. The program is also an on-ramp to participate in the Plains to Peaks Collective, the Colorado-Wyoming hub of the Digital Public Library of America. In addition to managing CVL Collections, Amy publishes the Friday Grab Bag, a weekly series highlighting Colorado library programs and events. She has 18 years of library experience in cataloging, metadata, technical services, electronic resources, serials, and collection management at academic and school libraries.

Questions

• Do I need to be brand new to digital collections work to join the project?
  • No. Even if you have some experience creating digital collections you will likely find value in participating, as the online course explores digital stewardship topics that you may not have encountered before. Contact Leigh Jeremias if you have questions about whether participation is right for you.
• Can I join if I work in Wyoming?
  • Yes! We welcome participants from Colorado and Wyoming.
• Do I need to be available for all the meetings in order to join?
  • You’ll get the most out of the experience if you come to all the meetings. Of course, if you need to miss a meeting from time to time that is OK.
• Can more than one person from my organization join?
  • Yes.
• Is there a registration cost for the course?
  • No.
• Do I need any special equipment?
  • For the course itself you just need a device with a camera and microphone for participating in online meetings.
• Will there be any certificate awarded?
  • OCLC/Webjunction offers a Certificate of Completion for the Digital Collections Stewardship course. The Colorado State Library does not offer educational credit for this course.
• What if I don’t have access to any digital collections?
  • While you will get the most out of this experience if you can apply what you learn to a real-life digital collection, we understand that this isn’t always possible. Please consider joining us anyway. 
• What if my organization needs a content management system (CMS)?
  • If your organization needs a content management system (CMS) for publishing digital collections online, contact Amy Hitchner to learn more about CVL Collections, a program administered by the Colorado State Library that is free for most organizations in Colorado and Wyoming with smaller digital collections.

If you have more questions that aren’t answered here, please reach out to Leigh Jeremias, jeremias_l@cde.state.co.us.