Explore unique highlights from UBC’s Open Collections, as well as insights into the work of the Digitization Centre. From announcements of new projects and collections to behind-the-scenes looks at our digitization process, we share the stories and hidden gems that inspire us in our efforts to preserve and make accessible diverse materials.

Telegraph in the olden days
Posted on May 05, 2022 by Kin Man Leung
The Chung Collection is an outstanding collection of archival documents, photographs, books, and artifacts related to three broad themes: British Columbia History, Immigration and Settlement, and the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. This collection contains over 10,000 digitized items dating from the 18th century to the 20th century, of which we have discussed the menus and […]

Metadata Cleanup for the Alma Mater Society Image Collection
Posted on Apr 25, 2022 by Kin Man Leung
During my 8-month co-op term in 2021/2022, I have been working as a Digital Projects Student Librarian at UBC Library Digitization Centre. The UBC Library Digitization Centre embraces new technologies, methods of access, workflows and preservation strategies while building sustainable digital collections to support and enrich the educational, cultural, and economic endeavors of the University, […]

BC Victoria Now and Then
Posted on Apr 19, 2022 by Kin Man Leung
Victoria is the capital of British Columbia and one of the oldest cities in Canada. This capital has evolved from a trading and commercial hub in the 19th century to a tourist hotspot and a city of government nowadays. In this post, we are taking the opportunity to compare a few recent photographs in Victoria […]

Metadata Cleanup for the UBC Institute of Fisheries Field Records Collection
Posted on Apr 11, 2022 by Laura Moberg
This blog post was written by Laura Moberg, a graduate student in the Dual Master of Archival Studies and Master of Library and Information Studies program at the UBC School of Information. Introduction As a project for the course ARST 556L/LIBR 514L: Metadata in the fall of 2021, I worked with the UBC Library Digitization Centre […]

Ideas for Indoor Games from the Open Collections
Posted on Mar 28, 2022 by Kin Man Leung
Since the pandemic, we have been spending a great deal of time at home. We imagine you have tried a variety of indoor games to bring your family together and nurture your relationships. In case you run out of ideas for indoor games, we have your back! We have searched our collections and found you […]

International Women’s Day
Posted on Mar 08, 2022 by Kin Man Leung
International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated annually on 8 March and its 2022 theme is “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”. It is a day of commemorating women’s movements during the 1917 Russian Revolution, celebrating women’s achievements, and raising awareness of breaking social bias. In recognition of this special day, we have gathered newsletter, […]

Happy Family Day
Posted on Feb 21, 2022 by Kin Man Leung
The third Monday in February is known as Family Day in most Canadian provinces, but it is also called Louis Riel Day in Manitoba, Islander Day on Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia Heritage Day in Nova Scotia. Regardless of the names, today is the perfect time to celebrate with your loved ones and spend […]

Happy Darwin Day
Posted on Feb 12, 2022 by Kin Man Leung
Today is Darwin Day. People all over the world pay tributes to Charles Darwin on his birthday, February 12. Charles Robert Darwin (1809–1882) was a renowned English naturalist and geologist who made significant contributions to the science of evolution. He proposed revolutionary scientific theories, best known for the theory of evolution by natural selection. His […]

Royal Visits to UBC
Posted on Jan 26, 2022 by Kin Man Leung
UBC has hosted visits from various members of Royal families over the past century. The most recent royal visit to UBC took place in 2016 when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Okanagan Campus] Apart from the British royals, UBC has also welcomed other royal families to visit the campus. Most members of […]

Back to the Online Class
Posted on Jan 12, 2022 by Kin Man Leung
Hurray! It is the first back-to-school week in UBC. With students back on campus, we look forward to the campus filled with laughter and learning. However, the University has decided to move most classes online until January 24 because of the emergence of the Omicron variant. We understand that students living off-campus may not have […]