Peter B. Hirtle is the Intellectual Property Officer for the Cornell University Library. Hirtle also serves as the bibliographer for United States and General History and is the Technology Strategist for the Library’s Instruction, Research, and Information Services Division. Previously, Hirtle served as Director of the Cornell Institute for Digital Collections where he explored the use of emerging technologies to expand access to cultural and scientific sources through the development and management of distinctive digital collections. He also served as the Associate Editor of D-Lib Magazine, a monthly magazine about innovation and research in digital libraries.
Prior to his arrival at Cornell, Hirtle worked at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), first for the Technology Research Staff and then as coordinator of electronic public access for the agency. He has also served as curator of modern manuscripts at the National Library of Medicine. Hirtle has an MA in History and an MLS with a concentration in archival science. He is a frequent speaker at professional meetings and has taught workshops on the Internet, digital imaging, and copyright. He is a Fellow and Past President of the Society of American Archivists, and chairs its Working Group on Intellectual Property. He was also a member of the Commission on Preservation and Access/Research Library Group's Task Force on Digital Archiving and the National Initiative for a Networked Cultural Heritage's Working Group on Best Practices in Networking Cultural Heritage. He is currently a contributing author to the LibraryLaw.com blog.