Here is a list of my 3 favorite digital collections.  To me these three collections highlight what I think collections should do: to provide access to a large amount of information and to allow access to information that may not be easily accessible to people in other areas of the world.

American Memory Collection at the Library of Congress

Probably my favorite collection available on the Internet is the American Memory digital collection provided by the Library of Congress. This collection provides a wealth of knowledge about American History from a proven source of knowledge, The Library of Congress. One of the main reasons I find this collection useful and interesting is the amount of information available. Over 9 million different pieces of information dealing with United States history are available. Individual items include maps, manuscripts, photographs, sound, and video recordings provided by a number of public and private collections. It would be very hard to find another source that provides as much information as this resource. Another thing that appeals to me is the ease of access that can be found in the various search options. A user can search by using either a basic or an advanced search feature. If this does not appeal to the user then a browsing option is available by topic. One of my favorite things is to just browse a topic such as “cities and towns” for interesting historical photographs. A user might come across an event they never knew occurred or place they never knew existed. Many times I will just browse the topics and lose myself in a subject that I really enjoy, American History.  

Miss Frank E. Buttolph American Menu Collection

This next collection is an example of something I found on the internet and really enjoyed because I had never considered using this type of material as an information resource. While completing a research project, for one of the professors I am a G.A. for, I came across this digital collection provided by the New York Public Library. The collection includes images of a number of menus that were collected by Miss Buttolph during her lifetime. The menus are organized by year and cover a range of years from 1851 to 1956. Many of the menus are from fine dining restaurants or special occasions. So if you have ever wanted to know what the World Champion Boston Red Sox ate at a congratulatory dinner held in 1912 than you are in luck. I enjoy this collection not only because it is a fascinating subject but because it is a collection that most people may never even realize is available. I guess it just shows you really can find anything somewhere on the net. Not only could some of these menus be considered a work of art but they also tell researchers a great deal about social customs and history.  

Louvre Museum Collection website

This website created by the Louvre Museum in Paris provides digital access to a number of the paintings and artifacts held by this world famous museum. The site is organized by the curatorial departments within the museum. The site also allows users to search using terms. Each department includes samples of the collection along with a physical description and a short historical description. This collection allows people that may never get to experience the Louvre in person a chance to experience and learn from the museum virtually.  I really enjoy just exploring something that I may never experience firsthand.  I love how I can visit a museum and learn aout the art and history found in it right from my couch.