Our Story
"Everything was changing. It was the 90s and everyone was talking about the World Wide Web, deregulation, and 'just in time' ideas. All of this had a big impact in the special library world in Washington, D.C. There were about 150 specialized libraries in associations throughout the DC area in the early 1990s. But during that decade, those libraries were closing one by one. Associations no longer felt they needed fully staffed librarians onboard anymore. This was when I took the “just in time” idea and began helping associations manage the information they needed.
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Rothbart Information Solutions (RIS) was founded in 1997. For thirty years, RIS has managed information for more than thirty-five associations, organizations, and companies across the DC area. From education to medical associations, chocolate manufacturers to environmental groups, RIS has preserved unique knowledge and provided easy access to vital documents for this wide range of organizations.
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As data continues to grow exponentially, effective information management is more critical than ever. In 2018, Linda’s daughter, Justine, joined the RIS team, strengthening the ability to guide clients through evolving technologies. Together, they led the successful transition of all clients to cloud-based systems and continue to migrate information to current and emerging standards.
Today, RIS—like the rest of the industry—is actively exploring and implementing AI-driven solutions. While the methods of information creation continue to evolve, one constant remains: the enduring need to preserve information, manage it responsibly, and ensure reliable access for the future."
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- Linda Rothbart
Read more about our story in the Spring 2022 Issue of the Mid-Atlantic Archivist.
Linda Rothbart
Linda earned her master’s degree from Syracuse University, the first “library school” to redefine itself as an Information Studies program. With a lifelong focus on managing and preserving information, she went on to serve as Director of Information Resources at the American Trucking Association in Alexandria, Virginia. Committed to building professional community, Linda founded DC Information Specialists, a monthly forum that brings together special librarians in the Washington, DC area for industry updates and behind-the-scenes library tours. She founded RIS in 1997 and has been preserving information ever since. Outside of her professional work, Linda enjoys participating in book and movie clubs, sharing new recipes through cooking demonstrations, and spending time with her growing family—especially her new grandsons.
Justine Rothbart
Justine earned her Masters from Catholic University - a school that combined her background in historic preservation and archives. Through the lens of preserving history, she learned best practices and tools for preserving unique knowledge and vital information. After graduate school she went on to work at the National Archives, Smithsonian, National Park Service, and White House Historical Association. She then became lead archivist at the Export-Import Bank of the United States from 2014 until she joined the RIS team in 2018. In her free time she enjoys writing short stories and playing the guitar.
