I initially encountered the IGS Student Library Assistant position during my study abroad program in Morocco. Through this program, I visited al-Qarawiyyin, the oldest standing library in the world, and had the opportunity to explore preserved books dating centuries before us. As I learned about the significance of preserving these artifacts that hold within them the knowledge of our past and influence on our present, I wondered if, and how, we, as a society, are currently working to preserve our developed knowledge and experiences for our future generations. Coincidentally, I found the IGS Library and began reading more about the LoCAL Digitization Project. The project’s mission—to provide our communities with access to documents that may impact them, but once weren’t readily available—was precisely the kind of initiative I hoped to see in society, and I knew that I had a responsibility to be part of this impactful mission.
The current political state of our society requires each member to understand the decisions once established that have led to our realities. From the fragile pages of the early 1900s to the more recent, computer-typed pages of the early 2000s, each document proves to be a record of ongoing reformation that members of our society have dedicated themselves to throughout history. It is only when we begin to recognize the influence that we can have on the livelihoods of our future generations, will we then be better equipped to exercise our rights to contribute to the decision-making process of our local governments. Through easily accessible local government information, we each have the privilege to fulfill our responsibility of not only becoming educated, but also activating this newfound education to become reformers of our society.
The LoCAL Digitization Project is, and will continue to be, an essential resource for researchers, policymakers, and anyone curious about the history of their California cities. One of the first documents that caught my attention as I was performing quality control checking was a map of Newport Beach—the beach that holds valuable memories from my childhood. The map was a land use plan from 1983, showing how the land surrounding the beach would be divided based on residency, commerce, etc. This initial discovery allowed me to realize that, through these digitized documents, I could learn so much more about the history and policies that made Newport Beach the beach that I remember and love. Intrigued, I delved further into the digitized archives, and what I found was astounding. I suddenly had access to government documents about Newport Beach ranging from housing elements to general plans to public safety elements, but the most fascinating of all to me was the "Conservation of Natural Resources Element” of the Newport Beach general plan from 1974. This document detailed the impacts of pollution, natural resources of the land, and policies to preserve these natural resources. This document was eye-opening as I had never once considered the efforts that went into protecting the very salty water I swam in, the warm sand I played in, and the fresh air I breathed in. Without these efforts to preserve the lands’ natural resources, I would have never grown up looking forward to spending those hot summer days with my family in Newport Beach. This personal experience allowed me to recognize that through accessing these impactful documents, I can learn about the history and policies of the places I care about so that I too may one day protect them for future generations.