About the Digital Preservation and Access Unit
The Digital Preservation and Access Unit (DPAU) digitizes materials from MSU Libraries' Special Collections, including documents, books, photographs, cassettes, LPs, and artifacts. DPAU manages the resulting digital collections in Scholars Junction, MSU's institutional repository, and creates and manages digital exhibits in Omeka.
Standards and practices
We strive to adhere to national standards and best practices for digital preservation, metadata, and accessibility, including:
- Federal Agencies Digital Guidelines Initiative (FADGI) Technical Guidelines for Digitizing Cultural Heritage Materials (2016)
- Library of Congress Recommended Format Statements (2018-2019)
- NISO Standard ANSI/NISO Z39.87-2006 (R2017) Data Dictionary – Technical Metadata for Digital Still Images
- Dublin Core Metadata Schema
- PREMIS (Preservation Metadata: Implementation Strategies) Data Dictionary version 3.0 (June 2015)
- WCAG 2.1 (AA level) Standards (June 2018)
Equipment
- Copibook OS Book Scanner
For safely and quickly digitizing documents, books, photographs, posters, and more to FADGI standards. - Canon EOS Rebel T3i EOS 600D; EF-S lens
For photographing 3D objects and oversized materials. - EPSON GT 150000 flatbed scanners
For digitizing text-based materials and photographs. - EPSON XL 10000 scanners
For digitizing slides, negatives, photographs, documents, and other flat materials. - Jensen JTA-230 LP Recorder
For digitizing LP records. - Denon DN-T645 recorder and M-audio Profire 2626 audio interface
For digitizing cassette tapes and CDs.
For more information
- Omeka Online Exhibitions
Learn more about our Omeka hosting service and how you can curate your own exhibit. - Contact DPAU
Report issues with digital collections, ask questions, or browse FAQs. - Special Collections
Learn more about MSU Libraries' unique and rare collections; request digital or printed copies (charges may apply), or permission to publish materials; ask questions or browse FAQs.
