Playing “photo tag” with Flickr…
Library of Congress on Flickr
What do the Library of Congress and I have in common? We’re both on Flickr.
I’m trying to wrap my brain around the LoC on Flickr. This is a most extraordinary collection. And a most extraordinary project.
Not only can you browse this remarkable collection (which, by the way, has no known copyright), you can contribute to its usefulness by adding tags. The images on Flickr, by the way, are just a portion of the LoC’s extensive online catalog (not all of which are in the public domain). The tag part, though, this is really cool. The goal here is to have the public contribute to the tags of the images.
This is another example of Web 2.0 / the read/write Web / collective wisdom. Like Wikipedia, this project democratizes the Web and allows people to add value; to contribute information that will be useful to someone they may never ever meet.
The photo here is one (sadly, one of only four) that I found when I searched the LoC’s Flickr photos using “Jewish.” It appears to be a Tashlich service.
Go ahead. What tags can you add?
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About
Debbie Harris is the director of educational technology at the Sager Solomon Schechter Day School in Northbrook, IL. Involved in Jewish education for over thirty years, she has an education degree from Northwestern University with a concentration in instructional media and a master’s degree in professional Jewish studies from Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership. She is skilled in using and teaching desktop publishing, video editing, presentation and animation software; and consults and presents regularly on integrating technology into Judaic studies. Her students podcast, blog, edit video and create claymations. She co-chaired the technology track for CAJE 33 in Vermont, is a SMART Certified Trainer for SMART Notebook, and a 2011 recipient of the Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education.
When not learning, teaching or writing about technology, Debbie likes to sketchnote and craft. She likes to knit, do calligraphy, sew, watercolor, paint fabric and just generally play with fun toys like scrapbooking supplies and anything with texture. Debbie travels to California every summer to paint tallitot with high school aged campers. Finally, she is incredibly proud of her two daughters; Lori, who teaches English at a community college; and Allie, who is the director of the URJ’s Camp Newman in California.
Look for her at:
Debbie Does Desktop
Flickr
Twitter
Diigo
YouTube
Ravelry
Email Debbie here
MuseForJews 
Hi,
We have a project similar to the LoC pilot project, called “PhotosNormandie”, which is alive since one year about:
http://www.flickr.com/people/photosnormandie/
For now, descriptions are in French language and we are trying to improve them. So, we invite comments to get better localisations, better identifications, check and verify information, etc.
A main difference between the two projects is the following: we are using IPTC metadata that are embedded in our hi-res photos, but LoC does not use IPTC and their descriptions and tags are attached to Flickr platform.
With best regards
—
Patrick Peccatte
Hi. I was happy to see my blog listed here. I love Flickr and I’ll be sure to check out the Library of Congress.