MLC Practicum

I have learned a lot during the time that I have been at the Mississippi Library Commission. I created a numbering system for the photographs that corresponds with a finding aid.  I learned how to create a finding aid, using metadata to describe each picture.  I also had to identify objects in some pictures (I had no idea what at TWX machine was!). After scanning each picture, I placed them in file folders labeled with the county name on it.
The numbering system will be beneficial when a researcher searches for a photograph on the finding aid. The researcher will be able to find the correct photo by the county name and the photograph number.
I learned how the libraries changed over time.  Most have been remodeled at some point.  Some of the pictures that I was working with dates back to the 1940's. Some photographs even showed libraries when they were segregated. 

TWX Machine

Sample of finding aid

The Mississippi Library Commission posted a blog concerning my internship.  The blog can be seen here: Mississippi Library Commission

July 25, 2016 through July 29, 2016

This week I will finish my practicum by completing the finding aid and scanning pictures for the following counties: Wilkinson County, Yalobusha County, and Yazoo County.

July 18, 2016 through July 22, 2016

This week I created a finding aid and scanned pictures for the following counties: Washington County and Webster County.

July 11, 2016 through July 15, 2016

I completed the finding aid and scanning of pictures for the following counties: Sunflower County, Tallahatchi County, Tate County, Tippah County, Tishomingo County, Tunica County, Walthall County and Warren County.

July 5, 2016 through July 8, 2016

This week, I started the finding aid and scanning pictures for Sunflower County.

June 27, 2016 through July 1, 2016

I compiled a finding aid and used the file names used in the finding aid to scan pictures in of the following counties: Sharkey County, Simpson County, Smith County, Stone County.

June 20, 2016 through June 24, 2016

This week I completed scanning pictures, and creating a finding aid for Quitman County, Rankin County and Scott County.

June 13, 2016 through June 17, 2016

I created a finding aid for each of the following counties.  I also labeled the back of each picture with pencil. Each picture has was labeled using the same file name that was used in the finding aid.  I completed the following counties this week: Noxubee County, Oktibbeha County, Panola County, Pearl River County, Perry County, Pike County, Pontotoc County, Prentiss County.

June 6, 2016 through June 10, 2016

This week I created a finding aid and scanned in pictures from the following counties: Marion County, Marshall County, Monroe County, Montgomery County, Neshoba County, and Newton County.

May 31, 2016 through June 3, 2016

This week I completed Lowndes County and Madison County.  I labeled each picture with the corresponding code in the finding aid that I am creating so that each picture can be found easier. I also scanned these pictures in so that they are available electronically. I also learned what a TWX machine was. I had never seen one so I had to ask what it was and what it did.  I learned that it created a punched tape for interlibrary loan purposes.