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.
What’s on Deck: Art, Poetry, and the Oldest Literary Magazine in Western Canada
Posted on Jul 17, 2015 by Alexandra Kuskowski
This week we’re exploring one of our most exciting projects and developing partnerships right now –the digitization of PRISM international! PRISM international one of the oldest literary magazines published here in Vancouver by the Creative Writing Program at UBC. A quarterly magazine established way back in 1959, PRISM’s goal, as stated on their website, is to “publish […]
Discover Lost Ancient Egyptian Papyri!
Posted on Jul 10, 2015 by Alexandra Kuskowski
Maybe you’ve heard the buzz here. Maybe you’ve got a hankering for learning a little more about ancient dinner invitations or old papyri from Egypt- either way you’ve come to the right place! This week’s blog is all about the newly digitized ancient artifacts up on our website right now! The two ancient papyri pieces, […]
UBC Library @ 100 : King John and the Digital Archives Adventure
Posted on Jul 03, 2015 by Alexandra Kuskowski
UBC library is turning 100 this year! To celebrate we’re going deep into the archives- the digital archives. Learn a little more about the history of the library, specifically UBC’s first librarian John Ridington, through the magic of UBC Archives Photograph Collections! Don’t worry, he’s a pretty interesting dude. You can even visit his room […]
How We Digitize: Manuscript Makeover
Posted on Jun 24, 2015 by Alexandra Kuskowski
One of our oldest books, the Logroño Antiphonary, is getting a digital restyling! Part of the Western Manuscripts collection from Rare Books and Special Collections, the Logroño Antiphonary*, known more commonly as the Spanish Chant Manuscripts, is a gorgeous collection of Gregorian chants, hymns and psalms complied by the Catholic church in Logroño, Spain. The text […]
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 Yvonne Chan
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 […]