September 11

th

and the
Transformation of the Web

Steven M. Schneider

WebArchivist.org
SUNY Institute of Technology

steve@sunyit.edu
WebArchivist.org
Mission
Enhance archiving of specialized collections of web materials
to facilitate scholarly analyses
Develop sense-making tools for individuals using digital
archives.
Co-Directors
Steve Schneider, SUNY Institute of Technology
Kirsten Foot, University of Washington
Collaborators on September 11 Project
Library of Congress
The Internet Archive
Pew Internet & American Life Project
Responsibilities
Produce metadata, create front end, deploy sense-making
tools..for archive of web materials related to September 11.
september11.archive.org
Launched
October 11.
Archive of
multiple
impressions
of about
6,000 sites.
Indexed by
producer
type.
Additional
indexes &
new features
under
development
Before
September
11th
Transforming the Web
Expand
familiar web
features,
increasing
volume and
speed.
Emerge
to provide new
features, new
types of
content, and
new producers
Expunge
limited
material from
web sites,
leaving the
remainder of
the site intact.
Eradicate
entire sites
from the web,
either
voluntarily or
involuntarily.

xxx
Expansion Press News
http://www.startribune.com/stories/1576/ (10/09/01)
Press sites
provided
expanded
news
coverage,
often
through
special
sections
devoted to
the terrorist
attacks and
the
aftermath.
Expansion Business - Donate
Business
sites, such as
Ebay,
expanded their
traditional
functions to
provide
features and
services
related to
September 11
http://pages.ebay.com (10/30/01)
Emergence Government - Information
New
features on
government
sites
facilitated
emergency
and
logistical
information
distribution
http://www.nyc.gov (09/18/01)
Emerge Volunteer - Information
An Im
OK genre of
sites quickly
emerged to
facilitate
distribution of
information
about
specific
individuals.
http://safe.millennium.berkeley.edu/ (9/14/01)
Emergence Business - Information
Businesses
used their
web
presence to
provide
information
about their
employees
status.
http://www.cantorusa.com/employees.php (9/24/01)
Emergence Government - Connection
Governments
around the
world used
their sites to
provide
opportunities
for individuals
to express
themselves
and to see
other
expressions
of condolence
http://commemoration.gc.ca (9/20/01)
Emergence University - Connection
Various
types of
producers
launched
features
allowing
community
members to
connect
with each
other.
www.elon.edu/e-net/terrorism.asp 9/20/01
Emergence Volunteer - Mourn
Memorial
and tribute
sites quickly
emerged,
many
featuring
multi-media
and
photographs.
http://worldtradecentermemorial.com/splashwtc.html (09/23/01)
Expunge Government
Expunge Government
http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/mawts1/ (6/15/01)
Expunge Government
http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/mawts1/ (10/28/01)
Eradicate Government (?)
A site that
may be the
official site
of the
Taleban
movement.
http://www.taleban.com (03/02/01)
Eradicate Government - Defacement
As reported
on September
12

http://defaced.interrorem.com/mirror/2001/09/12/www.taleban.com/
Eradicate Government? 404
september11.archive.org