Our Digital Collections
The creation and stewardship of digital collections enables the library to provide access to rare and unique materials for library users and researchers around the world. Our collection development policy for digital collections guides the process by which Special Collections & Archives materials are selected, digitized, described, and made available on the web.
Z. Smith Reynolds Library’s Digital Collections provides 24/7 access to over 245,000 unique digitized items within 112 online collections. Materials from the ZSR Digital Collections are primarily derived from the physical items housed within ZSR’s Special Collections & Archives. The subject matter includes information pertaining to the history of Wake Forest University, North Carolina Baptist churches, the American Civil War, and more. Formats include historic images, text, sound, and video recordings.
As part of a concerted effort to help preserve the history of the University, Special Collections & Archives also has a web archive to capture the websites that are integral in telling the academic, administrative, and social activity and history of Wake Forest University.
Selection criteria for digitization and transfer include:
- Historical value. Usefulness or significance of materials for understanding the past; seeking to expand our collections for underrepresented communities.
- Audience and use value. Usefulness or significance of materials to specific communities and WFU courses.
- Copyright analysis. Determination of copyright status and/or level of legal risk ZSR is willing to accept for digitizing materials.
- Physical condition. Ability of materials to withstand stresses of the digitization process.
- Technical feasibility. Project requirements and techniques given existing infrastructure for digital projects.
- Resource requirements. Human and financial resources required for digitizing, describing, maintaining, and making materials available digitally.
Our Digital Collections
The creation and stewardship of digital collections enables the library to provide access to rare and unique materials for library users and researchers around the world. Our collection development policy for digital collections guides the process by which Special Collections & Archives materials are selected, digitized, described, and made available on the web.
Z. Smith Reynolds Library’s Digital Collections provides 24/7 access to over 245,000 unique digitized items within 112 online collections. Materials from the ZSR Digital Collections are primarily derived from the physical items housed within ZSR’s Special Collections & Archives. The subject matter includes information pertaining to the history of Wake Forest University, North Carolina Baptist churches, the American Civil War, and more. Formats include historic images, text, sound, and video recordings.
As part of a concerted effort to help preserve the history of the University, Special Collections & Archives also has a web archive to capture the websites that are integral in telling the academic, administrative, and social activity and history of Wake Forest University.
Selection criteria for digitization and transfer include:
- Historical value. Usefulness or significance of materials for understanding the past; seeking to expand our collections for underrepresented communities.
- Audience and use value. Usefulness or significance of materials to specific communities and WFU courses.
- Copyright analysis. Determination of copyright status and/or level of legal risk ZSR is willing to accept for digitizing materials.
- Physical condition. Ability of materials to withstand stresses of the digitization process.
- Technical feasibility. Project requirements and techniques given existing infrastructure for digital projects.
- Resource requirements. Human and financial resources required for digitizing, describing, maintaining, and making materials available digitally.