Joshua Greenberg
Encyclopedia
Joshua M. Greenberg is an American
academic working in sociology of scientific knowledge
. Greenberg is Program Director for Digital Information Technology and the Dissemination of Knowledge at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
. Previously he was the Director of Digital Strategy and Scholarship at the New York Public Library
(NYPL). His interests encompass the intersection of scholarship, education and information technology. His initiatives at NYPL engaged the nascent disciplines of digital asset management.
in 1998. He was awarded an M.A. degree at Cornell University
in 2002.
Greenberg's doctorate from Cornell in 2004 was conferred on the basis of a thesis, From Betamax to Blockbuster: Mediation in the Consumption Junction (OCLC 58539393). In this work, Greenberg argued that the evolution was less a physical transformation than a change in perception, but one that relied on the very tangible construction of a network of social institutions.
and Art History
at George Mason University
. He was simulataneously the Associate Director of Research Projects at the Center for History and New Media
(CHNM). He participated in the development of Zotero
and Omeka
.
While at CHNM, he was affiliated with H-Net
as Web Editor for H-Sci-Med-Tech.
According to David Ferriero
, then Andrew Mellon Director of the Library, Greenberg was hired to "not only shape the digital library but think about where our users are and ways of getting NYPL in their faces." Among the more easily noticed innovations was the merging of NYPL's catalog systems. Formerly, there were two distinct catalogs, one for the research libraries (CATNYP) and another for the branch libraries (LEO). Now there is one, unified, online NYPL catalog.
The group's purview included the catalog and more. Controversy surrounded the integration of research and circulating collection catalogs. Greenberg evidenced the rationale behind a single catalog:
Greenberg and his NYPL team of digital designers and programmers worked to maintain NYPL's "Digital Gallery" to increase access to NYPL's extensive holdings of images, maps, etc. In addition, other projects to expand the NYPL offerings are evolving.
, an open-source platform for media which can then be embedded and played elsewhere on the Internet. Greenberg explained:
Greenberg's development plans included expanding the Spanish-language version of the NYPL web site, as well as potentially offering new languages in the future. In order to encourage more people to use the libraries, the collections are being made more accessible online.
The team headed by Greenberg is refining digital-scholarship components for a major Library exhibitions, including the one on Yaddo
. The terminal set up in the exhibit never actually functioned, and a link to a gmail address was provided to viewers. The online Yaddo exhibit was ultimately made available without press release on the NYPL website. http://exhibitions.nypl.org/exhibits/yaddo
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
academic working in sociology of scientific knowledge
Sociology of scientific knowledge
The sociology of scientific knowledge ' is the study of science as a social activity, especially dealing "with the social conditions and effects of science, and with the social structures and processes of scientific activity."...
. Greenberg is Program Director for Digital Information Technology and the Dissemination of Knowledge at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a philanthropic non-profit organization in the United States. It was established in 1934 by Alfred P. Sloan, Jr., then-President and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors.-Overview:...
. Previously he was the Director of Digital Strategy and Scholarship at the New York Public Library
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
(NYPL). His interests encompass the intersection of scholarship, education and information technology. His initiatives at NYPL engaged the nascent disciplines of digital asset management.
Education
Greenberg earned a B.A. degree at Johns Hopkins UniversityJohns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in 1998. He was awarded an M.A. degree at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 2002.
Greenberg's doctorate from Cornell in 2004 was conferred on the basis of a thesis, From Betamax to Blockbuster: Mediation in the Consumption Junction (OCLC 58539393). In this work, Greenberg argued that the evolution was less a physical transformation than a change in perception, but one that relied on the very tangible construction of a network of social institutions.
George Mason University
Greenberg was a research instructor of HistoryHistory
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and Art History
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
at George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
. He was simulataneously the Associate Director of Research Projects at the Center for History and New Media
Center for History and New Media
The Center for History and New Media at George Mason University was established by Roy Rosenzweig in 1994 to research and use digital media and information technology in historical research, education, digital tools and resources, digital preservation, and outreach.- Digital preservation...
(CHNM). He participated in the development of Zotero
Zotero
Zotero is free, open source reference management software to manage bibliographic data and related research materials . Notable features include web browser integration, online syncing, generation of in-text citations, footnotes and bibliographies, as well as integration with the word processors...
and Omeka
Omeka
Omeka is a free, open source web publishing system for online digital archives, and uses an unqualified Dublin Core metadata standard. Completely web-based, it allows users to publish cultural heritage objects, extend its functionality with themes and plugins, and curate online exhibits with...
.
While at CHNM, he was affiliated with H-Net
H-Net
H-Net is an interdisciplinary online discussion forum for scholars in the humanities and social sciences that consists of over 180 topic- or discipline-specific listservs. Many of the lists deal with various areas of historical study...
as Web Editor for H-Sci-Med-Tech.
New York Public Library
Greenberg served NYPL in a newly-created position as the Director of Digital Strategy and Scholarship, which means that he is actively involved in determining what this job will become. Greenberg headed the Digital Experience Group. By the end of 2009, the Digital Experience Group was folded into NYPL's Strategy office, effectively ending DEG at NYPL. DEG's blog was not updated between July 19, 2009 and the first of the year 2010.According to David Ferriero
David Ferriero
David Sean Ferriero is a librarian, library administrator, and the 10th Archivist of the United States. He was Director of the New York Public Library; and before that, he was the University Librarian and Vice Provost for Library Affairs at Duke University. Prior to his Duke position, he worked...
, then Andrew Mellon Director of the Library, Greenberg was hired to "not only shape the digital library but think about where our users are and ways of getting NYPL in their faces." Among the more easily noticed innovations was the merging of NYPL's catalog systems. Formerly, there were two distinct catalogs, one for the research libraries (CATNYP) and another for the branch libraries (LEO). Now there is one, unified, online NYPL catalog.
The group's purview included the catalog and more. Controversy surrounded the integration of research and circulating collection catalogs. Greenberg evidenced the rationale behind a single catalog:
- "It's not like there are two sets of people using them; the people using them are New Yorkers. So we're bringing it all together, which will make for a more efficient and more coherent process."
Greenberg and his NYPL team of digital designers and programmers worked to maintain NYPL's "Digital Gallery" to increase access to NYPL's extensive holdings of images, maps, etc. In addition, other projects to expand the NYPL offerings are evolving.
Kaltura partnering project
In 2007, NYPL established an innovative working relationship with KalturaKaltura
Kaltura is a software company based in New York which was founded in 2006.Kaltura's technology allows publishers and content owners to publish, manage, monetize and analyze their video and other rich-media content...
, an open-source platform for media which can then be embedded and played elsewhere on the Internet. Greenberg explained:
- "Kaltura is a good fit for The New York Public Library as we work to take advantage of the latest technologies and approaches to make our collection freely and widely accessible .... Working with Kaltura was a natural step in enabling the creative use of these rich materials in the broader online world."
Greenberg's development plans included expanding the Spanish-language version of the NYPL web site, as well as potentially offering new languages in the future. In order to encourage more people to use the libraries, the collections are being made more accessible online.
The team headed by Greenberg is refining digital-scholarship components for a major Library exhibitions, including the one on Yaddo
Yaddo
Yaddo is an artists' community located on a 400 acre estate in Saratoga Springs, New York. Its mission is "to nurture the creative process by providing an opportunity for artists to work without interruption in a supportive environment."...
. The terminal set up in the exhibit never actually functioned, and a link to a gmail address was provided to viewers. The online Yaddo exhibit was ultimately made available without press release on the NYPL website. http://exhibitions.nypl.org/exhibits/yaddo
Flickr partnering project
Greenberg's strategy led to NYPL investment in the development of Flickr Commons, including the challenges and costs of building and maintaining a "virtual reading room" and lessons learned the hard wayLessons learned the hard way
Learning the hard way refers to the educational results developed in the process of living life, the perspective gained as a result of trial and error—more often used in reference to the mistakes, mis-steps and misunderstandings which lead to better judgment....
.
Select works
- Greenberg, Joshua (2008). From Betamax to Blockbuster: Video Stores and the Invention of Movies on Video. Cambridge: MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-07290-8
- "Between Expert and Lay," IEEE Annals of the History of Computing (April–June 2005). Vol. 27, No. 2, pp. 95–96.
- "Creating the 'Pillars': Multiple Meanings of a Hubble Image," Public Understanding of Science (2004) Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 83–95.
See also
- New York Public LibraryNew York Public LibraryThe New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
- Center for History and New MediaCenter for History and New MediaThe Center for History and New Media at George Mason University was established by Roy Rosenzweig in 1994 to research and use digital media and information technology in historical research, education, digital tools and resources, digital preservation, and outreach.- Digital preservation...
- Coalition for Networked InformationCoalition for Networked InformationThe Coalition for Networked Information is an organization whose mission is to promote networked information technology as a way to further the advancement of intellectual collaboration and productivity. It is a joint initiative of the Association of Research Libraries as well as EDUCAUSE...
- National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation ProgramNational Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation ProgramThe National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program is an archival program led by the Library of Congress to archive and provide access to digital resources. The U.S. Congress established the program in 2000...
of the Library of CongressLibrary of CongressThe Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
(NDIIPP)
External links
- Epistemographer Greenberg's blog