Universities increase digitization efforts

A number of different sectors could benefit from digitizing records and other documents. From traditional business offices and hospitals to law firms, making sure files are saved on computers using document management systems can aid in preservation and storage efforts.

This is also true in universities, where digitizing can make research more efficient, as files are often put in easily-accessible databases. According to the Independent Florida Alligator, the University of Florida's Florida Museum of Natural History recently received a grant to expand their database offerings. The collection will now include files relating to invertebrate specimens.

The source reported that students and museum staff will add data from 100,000 species, with the goal of expanding research opportunities.

"If everyone's collection could be more accessible for everyone else to reach, I think it'd make everything much easier," collections assistant Ashley Berkow told the Alligator.

This tactic is being adopted at other schools across the country. For instance, the Cornell Daily Sun detailed that Cornell University's Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections is currently undertaking a project to digitize campaign memorabilia from President Barack Obama's original run for office in 2008. 

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