Importance of historical web based information

Look for Pete the Perch to show up on Orlando Memory. Many thanks to the librarian on the 4th floor for supplying the picture on flickr.
We have been given an interesting question this week: how important are 2 distinct websites with historical information to me and the library. The first part is easy - obviously Orlando Memory gives us the opportunity to keep photos of how the library looked and how it has evolved. Since certain kinds of change can take time - and let's face it libraries are among the slowest changers for a variety of reasons - it's easy to show just how much change takes place in a long time. We are also in the unique position to see the changes that go on in the downtown area. With Orlando memory we can have a repository for information not only about our library but about the community in which we live. It's nice for me because I like historical things and find it fascinating to see how things change.
Orange Seed is a different idea. It's not as visual, so at times it's hard to see how the ideas presented will really fit until they are completed. It does allow for collaboration by a number of people - even those who don't have the initial idea, but may have ideas about implementation of other's ideas. I rarely look at the orange seed because I don't have time and I haven't had an idea that I think needs to be implemented.