Uploading the library: YouTube, iTunes, Flickr

Digital media is the way to go, and the Library of Congress (Washington DC) is doing just that.

It is loading audio archives to iTunes, posting YouTube videos, and has already loaded photo archives, in January 2008, to Flickr.

The photo archive has been viewed about 15.7 million times; 3,100 photos were uploaded at first and added about 50 a week since then. iTunes has received 39 uploaded podcasts, and plans are to upload 100 videos to YouTube .

Those resources include early films, author interviews, first-person oral history and LOC resources.

All of this means that the LOC's resources - which includes some 15.3 million digital items - are becoming easier to use and more accessible to people around the world.

"The Library of Congress launched the first U.S. agency-wide blog two years ago and continued its pioneering social-media role with initiatives such as the immensely successful Flickr pilot project," said Librarian of Congress James H. Billington. "We have long seen the value of such interaction with the public to help achieve our missions, and these agreements remove many of the impediments to making our unparalleled content more useful to many more people."

To keep on top of LOC's plans and announcements, follow its Twitter page, sign up for RSS feeds or email alerts, and follow its blog.

For more information go to LOC.gov, and a new individualized website myLOC.gov.

Look for other federal agencies as well to participate in new media. On March 25, The General Services Administration announced agreements with Flickr, YouTube, Vimeo and blip.tv that will allow other federal agencies to participate in new media. GSA plans to negotiate agreements with additional providers.