Past Events, Current Teens, Future Skills: Producing Digital Oral History

Abstract

Public libraries can use digital oral history projects (1) to teach digital literacy skills to teens in accordance with national and state information literacy standards and (2) to develop local digital collections. The technical standards for such projects are modest, and the Library of Congress Veterans History Project provides an ideal template with which to begin. This article highlights the benefits of using the Veterans History Project for library programs and events and summarizes how the Veterans History Project can be collaboratively implemented across libraries. Suggestions for curriculum-based program development for young adult users of public libraries are also outlined.