At the University Libraries, faculty and staff bring diverse backgrounds and interests to their roles, elevating the Libraries’ culture of interdisciplinary collaboration and lifelong learning and curiosity. We asked Digitization Projects Manager and Data Deposit Coordinator Ann Marie Mesco a few questions about her work, to find out more about the inspiration behind her contributions to the campus community.
Q: In your own words, what is a quick overview of your role at the Libraries?
A: As Digitization Projects Manager and Data Deposit Coordinator, I help oversee the digitization of materials from the Libraries’ collections so they can be preserved and made accessible online. My work is highly collaborative, involving close coordination with archivists, librarians, and subject specialists to manage digitization workflows and ensure that digital files and metadata are properly prepared for long-term access in our digital repository systems. I also assist researchers and campus partners with depositing datasets into the Libraries’ data repository, helping ensure that their work can be preserved, shared, and discovered by others. Overall, my role sits at the intersection of technology, preservation, and access, helping connect our physical collections and research outputs with the digital tools that make them widely available.
Q: Talk a little about the work you’re most passionate about. Why have you chosen to pursue this work within a library setting?
A: I’m especially passionate about digitization and data management because it blends technology, organization, and problem-solving in a way that directly supports research and learning. As a 2001 Dietrich College graduate with a degree in History and Policy, it’s meaningful to give back to CMU and help ensure that knowledge, both historical and contemporary, is preserved and accessible for the campus community and beyond.
Q: Share an experience or skillset that people might not expect a librarian/library worker to have. How is it a game changer for the work you do at CMU?
A: One unexpected influence on my work comes from my time in the alternative and punk music scene, where discovering and sharing music was very DIY, mostly word-of-mouth and going to shows. There weren’t many formal systems, so people figured things out creatively. When I started working in digitization at CMU, it felt familiar: the field was still developing, and that same DIY mindset helped me approach workflows and problem-solving in flexible and practical ways.
Q: The Libraries serves as a neutral convening space to bring different areas of campus together. How do you value collaboration in your work? Can you give us an example of a recent collaboration that has helped a project reach new heights?
A: Collaboration is central to the work we do at the Libraries, and it’s one of the aspects I value most. Many of our projects require bringing together multiple teams, both within the Libraries and across campus, to make something greater than the sum of its parts. For example, on one side of the office, we might be working on the University Archives’ contribution to the RIC exhibit, like digitizing Worker Safety Posters on loan from Rivers of Steel, while on the other side, we’re scanning CFA specifications by Henry Hornbostel. These projects involve coordinating with archivists, subject specialists, and community partners, allowing us to bring campus and community resources together in meaningful ways. Working in tandem like this ensures that our collections are preserved, accessible, and presented in ways that have the maximum impact for researchers, students, and the public.
Q: What’s an area that you want to innovate and push boundaries in? Why is it exciting to you?
A: Looking ahead, I’m excited to explore emerging technologies, like AI-assisted metadata and discovery tools, as well as 3D scanning for items that may not last the test of time. I’m also eager to experiment with the new scanners we’ve added to the lab, discovering what they can reveal and how we can use them in innovative ways to capture, preserve, and share collections. These tools help push the boundaries of what a library can do, connecting people to materials in new ways while giving us more time to focus on creative problem-solving and expanding access to campus and community collections.
Q: What’s something in the Libraries that speaks to you personally? This can be a book, something in the Archives or Special Collections, a space in one of the buildings — anything you want to highlight!
A: It’s hard to choose just one thing in the Libraries that speaks to me because there’s so much that fascinates me! The Shakespeare Folios in Special Collections stand out. I never imagined I’d get to work with them, and learning about their history was incredible. I also loved the yearbook project, especially discovering how often dogs appeared in student life photos. Other favorites include the contract from The Clash’s 1982 sold-out show at CMU and the Pittsburgh Jewish Newspaper collection, which is an amazing resource for history and community life. Each of these collections shows the depth and richness of the Libraries’ holdings, and getting to work with them is a true privilege.