Consultation & Digitization

Archival Consultation

In addition to consulting with researchers about their work in the collections at the Barnard Archives and Special Collections, we also consult with faculty, students, and staff about their personal digital archiving needs, planning for digital archives projects and grants, digital preservation plans, and research in other archival repositories. 

In order to schedule a consultation, please contact us at archives@barnard.edu.

Archives Digitization Resources 

When feasible, we welcome researchers (including Barnard students, faculty, staff, and external researchers) to use the Archives’ digitization infrastructure (scanners, overhead photography setup, A/V digitization rack, and software) for their own personal or research use (i.e. digitizing non-Barnard Archives materials). These facilities are available by appointment only, and only when not in use by Archives staff. Individuals who are making digital files using this infrastructure must do the digitization themselves, and Archives staff will support the individual to get set up with our documentation on how to digitize their materials. Individuals using this infrastructure are subject to U.S. copyright law, and use is at their own risk and at the risk of the documents (that is, we cannot guarantee when using obsolete technologies like VHS players that the hardware/player will not damage the item). We may also set limits on how many pieces of audiovisual materials can be digitized in order to reduce wear and tear on the machinery. 

We cannot support the digitization of copyrighted material (unless the copyright is held by the individual making the digitization request) or of materials from the Library for use in courses. 

In order to inquire about use of the archives digitization infrastructure or to schedule an appointment, researchers should contact us at archives@barnard.edu.

Additional digitization hardware and software is made available by the Columbia University Digital Humanities Center in 305 Butler Library. At the Columbia University Digital Humanities Center, members of the Columbia University community can utilize technology for scanning and editing texts and images, and digital video editing. We can also recommend reliable vendors for larger digitization projects.