About the Digitization Centre

Formats we digitize

The Digitization Centre is currently able to digitize the following formats:

• Books and other bound materials
• Unbound textual records
• Photographs
• Large formats (blueprints, maps, architectural drawings, etc.)
• Film (8mm, Super 8mm, 35mm)
• Slides
• Negatives

For formats not listed above, we encourage you to revisit this page periodically as it is updated to reflect our most current service offerings.

Many factors determine how we proceed with a digitization request. These factors include:

• Capacity: 
  • Does the Centre have the equipment and software needed to digitize and process the materials?
  • Does the Centre require additional resources (staffing, funding, etc.) to fulfil the request?
• Rights and restrictions:
  • Are the items under copyright or under a specific license that prevents or limits digitization?
  • Are there restrictions or terms of access and use?
  • Are there cultural protocols that prevent the items from being digitized or made accessible? 
  • Is there private or sensitive information in the records?
• Physical condition:
  • Are the materials too fragile to be digitized safely?
  • Will digitization help reduce future damage to the original records?

If a digitization request can be undertaken, the Centre's staff will then work to determine the best equipment, standards, and workflows to use to ensure efficiency and quality throughout the digitization process.

In alignment with the Libraries values, the Digitization Centre digitizes material to:

• Empower students and faculty by providing access to diverse, innovative, and relevant digitized materials
• Respond to evolving needs of our community by providing inclusive and safe digital spaces and collections
• Innovate by leveraging technology and expertise and enhance access and the user experience
• Respect the rights and knowledge of all communities, particularly Indigenous cultures, by fostering respectful partnerships and agreements in digitization efforts
• Collaborate with partners to build collections that reflect and support the research interests of the UM community