Here at the Digitization Centre we are fascinated and excited by the vast amount of primary-source material that our digitization work exposes us to. Whether a document of historic significance, a beautiful illustration, or even a particularly fine typeface, we are frequently amazed by the materials we’re working to share with the world. So much so, that not only will we crowd around to ogle a particularly interesting specimen, but we’ve started decorating our workplace with copies of some of our favorites. But why stop there? Surely, we can’t be the only ones geeky enough to appreciate such “gems” in our collections, and so we’ve decided to share them here with you. Below you will find some of our favorites, hand-picked by staff from both existing and upcoming collections. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
TIP: To view full resolution versions of the images on any size screen, click to view in Open Collections.
How We Digitize: Audio Edition!
Posted on Jun 17, 2015 by Alexandra Kuskowski
Every blog reader loves an inside scoop. Here is a heads-up on one of our upcoming projects! The UBC Library Digitization Centre and CiTR 101.9 FM, the Student Radio Society of the University of British Columbia, are at it again! We’ve got another collaborative project in the works, with support from the BC History Digitization Program […]
Sea Monsters, Maps & You
Posted on Jun 12, 2015 by Alexandra Kuskowski
Cartographers and mapmakers have been inspired since time began by the tall tales the slink out of the sea via mariners and shipwreck survivors. From giant man-eating whales, to mischievous mermaids, to indescribable monsters of another age, these beasts have crept into maps where they are least expected. Many were included to decorate maps and illustrate […]
Extra! Extra! New Uno Langmann Albums Online
Posted on Jun 03, 2015 by Alexandra Kuskowski
We’ve posted about the Uno Langmann BC Historical Photograph Collection before here, here, and here, but now we’ve got even more to talk about! Like, for example, this newly uploaded photo: In case you want a refresher (and to know where this photo originates) – The Uno Langmann BC Historical Photograph Collection, with over 18,000 […]
Explore Open Collections: One Hundred Poets | 百人一首
Posted on May 27, 2015 by Alexandra Kuskowski
The One Hundred Poets Project is online and ready to be explored! Originating from the personal collection of Professor Joshua Mostow from the UBC Asian Studies department, this project was made possible through generous funding from the Toshiba International Foundation (TIFO) and collaboration between the UBC Asian Studies department, Asian Library, Digitization Centre, Rare […]
(Star) Crossed Letters: To Digitize or Not to Digitize. That is the Question…
Posted on May 22, 2015 by Alexandra Kuskowski
We’ve talked a lot about how we digitize, but have you ever wondered how we decide what we digitize? There are a lot of criteria for a collections digitization – durability, funding and interest are some – but one criteria point for digitization that is less well known is if the collection will help people […]
How We Digitize: Imaging UBC’s “Gazing at Taishan” poem
Posted on Apr 24, 2015 by Emily Chicorli
We have digitized an original work by calligrapher and painter, Fan Zeng (b. 1938), created when he was in Vancouver in 1980. The piece’s dedication is to the “UBC Asian Centre” (which opened in 1981). Fan’s intention was to create the piece as a gift to the Asian Centre to display within the building when […]
Explore Open Collections: RBSC Bookplates
Posted on Mar 24, 2015 by Emily Chicorli
Bookplates, otherwise referred to as ex-libris (From the books of..), are used to indicate ownership of a book. They are often personalized, artistic and indicative of the time or place of creation. Images of bookplates are from books and collections donated to UBC Library, developed and maintained by UBC’s Rare Books and Special Collections. Check out the […]
Explore Open Collections: Epigraphic Squeezes
Posted on Mar 16, 2015 by Emily Chicorli
Collaborative projects are at the heart of the Digitization Center. Today, we are highlighting the work done with UBC’s Department of Classical, Near Eastern, and Religious Studies (CNERS) and students from the From the Stone to Screen project. From Stone to Screen is a multidisciplinary, open access and collaborative digitization project entirely run by students […]
New Project Announcement: Digitizing PRISM International
Posted on Mar 09, 2015 by Emily Chicorli
We are excited to announce that we will be digitizing issues of PRISM International, Western Canada’s oldest literary magazine out of Vancouver, British Columbia, whose mandate is to publish the best in contemporary writing and translation from Canada and around the world. The digitization project is in partnership with the UBC Creative Writing department and […]
Explore Open Collections: Discorder
Posted on Feb 23, 2015 by Emily Chicorli
In a collaborative effort between the UBC Library Digitization Centre and CiTR 101.9 FM, the Student Radio Society of the University of British Columbia, we have completed digitizing the entire run of the Discorder, a magazine devoted to in-depth coverage of Vancouver’s independent music scene and published by CiTR 101.9 FM. This collection greatly enhances access […]
