The Associates of the Boston Public Library is proud to underwrite the salary of one of the BPL’s Digital Imaging Production Assistants; a role filled in July by Jade Alderman.  

In this position, Jade digitizes various types of books and materials, primarily using the BPL’s state-of-the-art camera workstation. This high-resolution book scanning system has been a game-changer, as it has two cameras that capture images of both sides of a book simultaneously. Additionally, Jade utilizes other imaging tools such as a down shooting setup and the microfilm scanner. On working with this equipment, Jade noted that “it has been highly rewarding to work with a variety of materials from BPL's extensive collections, and to increase my skills while utilizing this outstanding equipment.”  

Before moving to Boston, Jade worked at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) in Philadelphia, digitizing their collection, including paintings, prints, and sculptures. Working at PAFA cemented her interest in cultural heritage photography and working with collections and archives. Jade was drawn to the Boston Public Library because of its impressive collections and its strong cultural reputation. She was also excited to relocate to Boston and experience all that the city has to offer! 

Jade appeared in this recent coverage by NBC 10 on the Library's use of AI to make collections more accessible. Her recent work to image historic government documents and books is contributing to a pilot effort to utilize artificial intelligence to better describe some of the BPL’s vast holdings. 

Congratulations and welcome, Jade!