What is the DPLA?
The DPLA, or Digital Public Library of America, is a recently-launched effort to provide access to artifacts and documents from many libraries, archives, and museums across the country. It does not own or store these items, but it does provide a portal to anyone with an Internet connection, for free!
How can I use it?
This page will provide you with information about and practice using the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA). Begin by watching the tutorials below; feel free to pause and follow along with your own browser in a different window. For further practice, follow the exercises below. Closed captioning available.
Tutorial 1: Using the DPLA to Find Visual Resources
In the right context, visual primary sources (or digital versions of them), such as those provided through the DPLA, can drive home a point even more effectively than words, and help keep the attention of your reader or viewer. View the video below to find out more!
Search: 00:18
Limiting Results: 00:44
Selecting and Viewing a Result: 2:00
Tutorial 1: Using the DPLA to Find Visual Resources
In the right context, visual primary sources (or digital versions of them), such as those provided through the DPLA, can drive home a point even more effectively than words, and help keep the attention of your reader or viewer. View the video below to find out more!
Search: 00:18
Limiting Results: 00:44
Selecting and Viewing a Result: 2:00
[Link to transcript/text version of tutorial with screenshots: Coming soon!]
[Tutorial 2: Creating and using a DPLA account. Coming soon!]
Exercises:
1. Create a DPLA account. Write down your username and password for future reference.
2. Perform a search for your own topic. Now filter by date, format, view, or another factor--what changes?
3. Save your search.
4. Go back to your search and choose one result that might be useful for your project. What are the rights associated with this object? How might you use it to support an argument or illustrate a point?
5. Why might you want to view results by map or timeline?
6. Look at the "timeline" view of all objects from the home page. What do you notice about the very early years? What is the significance of this?
1. Create a DPLA account. Write down your username and password for future reference.
2. Perform a search for your own topic. Now filter by date, format, view, or another factor--what changes?
3. Save your search.
4. Go back to your search and choose one result that might be useful for your project. What are the rights associated with this object? How might you use it to support an argument or illustrate a point?
5. Why might you want to view results by map or timeline?
6. Look at the "timeline" view of all objects from the home page. What do you notice about the very early years? What is the significance of this?
