Name: Sarah Wingo
Internship: U-M Library Department of Preservation and Conservation 

 I am an Archives and Records Management and Preservation of Information MSI candidate at the University of Michigan and I have spent my summer researching preservation of personal digital files. 

Thanks to a grant from IMLS I have had the opportunity to immerse myself in researching tools and practices for the preservation of personal digital files. An area of research which until recently has been largely underrepresented within the archival and preservation fields.   

The aim of my research was to create a workshop to provide attendees with ideas, strategies, and tools for better organizing and preserving their personal digital files. This project was conceived of by Shannon Zachary the head of the department of preservation and conservation as part of U-M Library’s ongoing goal to provide outreach education to the university community.  

The final products of my labors are a two-hour workshop and a 24-page companion guide, http://guides.lib.umich.edu/loader.php?type=d&id=501790.  In the first week of August I presented my workshop entitled Preserving Personal Digital Files to approximately 30 U-M Library staff members. I will present my workshop in cooperation with the U-M Knowledge Navigation Center at least once more this fall, at a date yet to be determined.  All future workshop presentations will be open to the U-M community, so I hope to see you there!