Ress, Sunghae

This poster presentation will illustrate how digital collections add value to the scholarly communication chain by supporting research, teaching, and scholarship in several ways: 1) increase access to primary materials, 2) increase access to special collections and archives 3) increase access to local materials of historical, cultural, and artistic significance 4) expand open access 5) foster collaboration with faculty and students 6) increase the reputation and visibility of your university and library. I will use specific examples from the Florida Atlantic University Digital Collections to “show and tell” and include the importance of creating metadata to enhance discovery and access to your digital collections. In addition, this poster will very briefly touch upon digital sustainability; mainly that of ensuring ongoing access to digital collections and ensuring long term preservation of these same materials.

This article explores ways to increase access and usability of special
collections by leveraging the value of open access and the value of
collaboration. Tools that enhance discovery of special collections
through the Internet, contextualize, and actively engage the user
such as BibilioBoard, Historypin, and Augmented Reality can be
an integral part of a strategy to increase access to special collections.
More importantly, reference librarians can play a key role
in facilitating discovery and access by including special collections
in reference searches and by expanding their collaborative and
liaison activities.