Preserving History in the Digital Age: Janice Shapiro Hussain MLIS'14
Within a month of completing her Rutgers Master of Library and Information Science degree (now the Master of Information), Janice Shapiro Hussain MLIS’14 began working in Columbia University Libraries’ digital preservation division.
More than a decade later, Hussain has applied her library and information science education at several major cultural institutions. In April 2026, she joined the 9/11 Memorial & Museum as a digital collections and archives specialist.
The Museum’s digital collections include photographs, moving images, oral histories, artwork, and other materials received from donors, including survivors, victims’ family members, and first responders. Hussain works to receive, document, and preserve these historically significant materials.
“My current work ensures the files we receive are stored in the best formats available, that digital data is not lost during transfers, and that the files are stored in a way that supports our established practices and future retrieval,” she said.
Her role requires technical expertise as well as an understanding of the personal and historical significance of the materials entrusted to the Museum. Digital files can become inaccessible as formats and technology change, making careful management and long-term preservation essential.
Some of the materials present preservation challenges associated with the technology of the early 2000s. Because the attacks occurred 25 years ago, with much of the content produced in the years that followed, Hussain describes some materials as part of a “unique 2000s technology time capsule.”
They include VHS tapes, optical discs, and older website content created with software that is no longer supported. Adobe Flash content, for example, cannot be played unless Hussain and her colleagues run an emulator.
Some of the content can be very difficult, including heartbreaking answering-machine messages from victims who were trapped on Sept. 11 and oral histories from survivors and family members about their loved ones.
“With a growing number of people having no living memory of September 11, it’s more important than ever that these materials are saved,” Hussain said.
Hussain worked at Columbia University Libraries as a technical assistant from March 2014 until December 2016. She then joined Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, where she worked as a digital asset administrator from December 2016 until April 2026.
Her professional path shows how library and information science skills can lead to work beyond traditional library settings. Her work has encompassed digital preservation, digital asset management, archival practice, museum collection management, and collaboration with donors.
“All of my SC&I courses have been relevant at one point or another in my career,” she said, identifying courses in digital libraries, cataloging, and technology as particularly useful.
She continues to draw on her coursework. “I often recall the readings from Human Information Behavior, which highlighted that individuals and groups may seek information differently. Knowing that can improve user access.”
For current and prospective students considering careers in digital preservation, digital asset management, museum collections, and other nontraditional library and information science roles, Hussain emphasized the breadth of the field.
“Anyone who stewards and organizes anything, physical or digital, can be considered a librarian in my book, so the possibilities are endless!” she said. “While most institutions will have designated information technology teams, having a library and information science background gives you a unique perspective when approaching data so that it will make sense not only now, but for years to come.”
By organizing and preserving digital collections, information professionals help ensure that culturally and historically significant materials remain accessible to future generations. Hussain’s career offers one example of where the Master of Information program can lead and the difference information professionals can make.
