Toronto, Ontario, July 2009 - The US Library of Congress enlists edCetra Training to help implement new semantic web technology into its existing Professional Development website for Teaching with Primary Sources.

edCetra Training, a custom learning service provider headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, has provided the Library of Congress with new web technology enabling teachers across the US to customize professional development activities.

The new technology builds upon the Library of Congress’ initiative to provide educators with professional development resources to integrate Primary Sources into their curriculum. The new website was launched at the National Educational Computing Conference in Washington DC and was demonstrated to educators at a private reception in the Jefferson building of the Library.

http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2009/09-129.html

“With a very tight deadline and a large amount of content to organize, edCetra Training made the target."” said Kathleen McGuigan from Library of Congress.

Based on semantic web technology, the solution provided to the Library of Congress enables teachers to custom build a personalized professional development plan based on their own research, review and selection of relevant topics The professional development kit is created in real time and solely on the selections of the educators.

“With the latest developments in the Internet industry, a solution based on the use of semantic technology is right in line with where the industry is moving. edCetra Training is honored to have had the opportunity to work on a project with the Library of Congress and be a part of something so innovative” said Nancy Safar, President edCetra Training.

The project is moving forward with creating HTML ready outputs enabling school districts to load the professional development plans onto their Learning Management Systems.

About the Library of Congress

The Library of Congress is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution and serves as the research arm of Congress. It is also the largest library in the world, with millions of books, recordings, photographs, maps and manuscripts in its collections. The Library's mission is to make its resources available and useful to the Congress and the American people and to sustain and preserve a universal collection of knowledge and creativity for future generations. The Office of the Librarian is tasked to set policy and to direct and support programs and activities to accomplish the Library's mission.

Contact: Kathleen McGuigan, Educational Resource Specialist
202.707.8545
kmcg@loc.gov
www.loc.gov

The trick to "owning" your content is to research your options fully and always have an exit strategy. Use open source technology where you can.