Alliance Library System and Learning Times Announce ATLAS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1 , 2009
CONTACT:  Lori Bell, Alliance Library System, lbell <at> alliancelibrarysystem.com
John Walber, LearningTimes, john@...
 
          Alliance Library System and LearningTimes Announce ATLAS
Alliance Library System (ALS) and LearningTimes are pleased to announce the debut of ATLAS (Alliance
Trail to Learning and Syndicated Sites) at http://www.atlaspodcatss.org.  ATLAS is a new set of social
media tools ALS is using to promote information and historical photos about Illinois history.  ALS and
LearningTimes partnered to create this innovative and exciting new model of collaborative digital
imaging collections using multimedia and social networking tools to bring historical times to life, and
involving a community at large in its creation.  The project debuted June 29th with an online
conference.  A recording of the event is available at
http://www.atlaspodcasts.org/webcast-2009-06/.  The Cullom-Davis Library at Bradley University
will serve as the first partner library to produce additional podcasts on Illinois history to be added to
the site. They were involved in the first set of ten podcasts, providing the material for the five from
 Peoria.
At the heart of the ATLAS project are digital images of historic people, places, documents and objects. 
The images are combined with audio descriptions and placed on a map of Illinois to produce an engaging new
interactive learning model for libraries and their customers.  
The project began with ten short high-quality podcasts about nineteenth century Illinois and famous
women from the first hundred years of statehood.  Produced in association with LearningTimes, each
podcast spotlights a specific person or topic area.  ATLAS visitors are able to mouse over a city in
Illinois and select a story of interest, featuring engaging commentary and information.  A searchable
database allows users to search sound files, narratives and photographs. The programs may be enjoyed
right from the ATLAS site, or downloaded to a portable audio player.
The ATLAS site will support dozens of additional podcasts.  To encourage continued growth and wide
participation, LearningTimes trained over 50 librarians from all over the state to produce their own
podcasts.  Based on the popular LearningTimes program “Producing Great Audio and Video
Podcasts,” these online workshops offered concrete approaches for bringing each of the elements of a
great podcast together.  Participants learned the practical skills and techniques they need to
produce high-quality, highly engaging audio and video podcasts.  Participants are expected to share
two images relating to Illinois history and additional podcast modules which will become part of the
project website.
“We are thrilled to introduce this exciting new tool to the library community” said Kitty Pope, ALS
Executive Director.  “As we dig our way out of this recession, Central Illinois libraries are
embracing their new role as the one community organization that crosses all boundaries and creates a
forum to work together. I believe ATLAS will highlight this emerging role and build a bridge for
inter-agency cooperation. I can see libraries working with a whole new group of folks on this project,
from the small business to historic sites and recreational facilities, the opportunities for creating
podcasts to add to the map are endless. This is a great project, for these challenging times.”
 
 “We are delighted to be the first library partner in this exciting historical project and have a lot of
wonderful material to contribute,” stated Barbara Galik, Director of the Cullom-Davis Library at
Bradley University.  “Our Access Services Librarian, Skip Burhans, will work with students to
research selected topics, choose images, and write and produce podcasts for the site.”
LearningTimes CEO John Walber added: “We are honored to participate in this unique program. ATLAS
enabled us to combine our skills in online community development, podcast production and training, and
map-based podcasting, with the great stories of Illinois heroes. We hope this is just the beginning of a
great and expanding future for the ATLAS collection.”
To participate in upcoming ATLAS events, join the ATLAS google group at http://groups.google.com/group/AllianceATLAS?lnk=gcimv
The ATLAS project was funded through a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant from the Illinois
State Library, a division of the Office of Secretary of State.
 
 
 

Lori Bell
Director of Innovation
Alliance Library System
600 High Point Lane
East Peoria, IL 61611
(309)694-9200 ext. 2128
lbell@...