Robinette's Capstone Project Preserves Local History
Mr. Clay Farrar of the Hot Springs Downtown Rotary Club approached National Park College
(NPC) history professor Dr. Christopher Thrasher, Honors program director about digitizing
scrapbooks for the preservation and circulation of the history of Hot Springs.
Thrasher suggested the project to Honors student Alan Robinette because it complimented
Robinette’s studies in Library Sciences. “Aspects of my degree will include preservation
of materials, curatorship and categorizing through the use of metadata and extensive
categorization,” stated Robinette.
Robinette initially began this project strictly to preserve materials but soon realized
that the use of different file formats and platforms would allow for more accessibility
and distribution. Not only being able to house the items online, but also being able
to make these documents searchable and printable made sure this was, “more than just
a digital insurance policy for these documents,” said Robinette.
Robinette had the opportunity to present his capstone at the Arkansas Association
of College History Teachers (AACHT) convention allowing him the opportunity to receive
feedback from professionals in the field.
Robinette believes that as the NPC campus continues to grow the relationship between
the college and community is imperative. Robinette goes on to state, “This relationship
is symbiotic. Garland County needs National Park College to provide opportunity and
an educated workforce; likewise, National Park will continue to need the support of
the greater Hot Springs community as it meets the needs of students in the 21st century.”
