This paper explores the journey Curtin University Library has taken in providing digital access to recently acquired collections. It discusses the collections, outlines important criteria and processes, and presents the challenges and benefits of digitising collections.
Curtin University Library established its first digital archive collection with the opening of the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library in 1998. It has since developed a digital archive of the papers of past WA Premier Dr Geoff Gallop and digitised an annotated bibliography of noted author Elizabeth Jolley. The Library is currently working on a collection of records and artefacts related to Jon Sanders’ 1988 triple circumnavigation of the world.
In order to consider collections of vastly different subject matter, formats and information types for acceptance, the Library developed a selection policy and inclusion criteria checklist. These documents ensure decisions are made in a consistent and defensible manner, and take into account available resources. The range of formats (eg. print, audio, video, images, objects) and information types (eg. speeches, scrapbooks, journal articles, plays, sail plans, echo sound charts) across the collections has required an individual and creative approach to organising and providing digital access to each collection.
The benefits resulting from these activities include utilising and developing staff expertise, making valuable collections widely available where they would have otherwise remained largely inaccessible, and enhancing the reputation of Curtin University.
For libraries considering developing a digital collection, this paper will provide a framework and practical guide with which to proceed.