Protecting the Past to Inform the Future

Digitizing important collections for the world to access.

Give to the Digitization Lab

For 20 years, CSUN has been growing its digital collection of historically significant documents, photographs, artistic works and exhibit materials and making them available to researchers from around the globe. The majority of digital collections focus on Los Angeles history with an emphasis on documenting the socioeconomic changes and cultural evolution of the San Fernando Valley from the early 19th century through the end of the 20th century. Other digital collections from the University Library Special Collections and Archives include Civil War and slavery documents, as well as World War II documents included in the CSU Japanese American Digitation Project.

For 20 years, CSUN has been growing its digital collection of historically significant documents, photographs, artistic works and exhibit materials and making them available to researchers from around the globe.

Digitizing collections protects these valuable materials from deterioration by handling, or from natural disasters including fire or flood. It allows them to be easily shared for collaboration on projects and searchable by adding in links, which is not possible for print collections. The process of digitizing collections doesn’t mean the original print is lost. Funding for the lab not only makes these collections widely accessible and searchable by researchers and enthusiasts globally, it also protects original materials so they may be stored properly and under professional care. Funds also create additional employment opportunities for students and interns, boosting the library’s productivity.

Your gift protects the past so it may educate and inform the future.