By Ashlyn Grace Brothers
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) — Two campus groups team up to capture history through the digitization of student publications. The University Libraries and the School of Journalism and Strategic Media host an event on Tuesday, Oct. 29 in honor of Archives Month.
Mullins Library opens its doors to the public at 4:30 p.m. for the drop-in viewing of the digital services department’s work on digitizing the Razorback yearbook, formally known as the Cardinal, and the Arkansas Traveler.
“I think the University of Arkansas library system is understanding that if we don’t digitize things, they just tend to go away, and if they don’t go away they get stored in boxes that nobody ever sees,” said Larry Foley, departmental chairperson.
According to University Libraries, the digitization of the yearbook will provide 100 years of digital documentation available to the public upon completion. Volumes from 1879 through 1949 are currently available online. Once finished, the project will include 119 volumes in 45,000 single scans. Student media leaders expressed their excitement for the project and look forward to seeing the final product.
“Well, it gives us a great resource to find and read stories from older issues of the Traveler,” said Chase Reavis, editor-in-chief of the Arkansas Traveler. “It’s huge for us, being able to say ‘I wonder how we’ve reported on this issue in the past,’ and be able to actually find examples.”
Following, a panel discussion of student media leaders and faculty will commence at 5:30 p.m. in Room 130. Foley will moderate the discussion. He will be joined by panelists Beth Dedman, editor-in-chief of Hill Magazine, and Charlie Alison, executive editor for University Relations. Foley said the digitization process is crucial when moving forward in the world of mass media.
“I can, from my computer, find all kinds of things and that’s what digitizing means. It means that the information becomes more accessible for more people. It just doesn’t go away,” Foley said.
Professor panelists include Robyn Starling-Ledbetter, director of Student Media, Bret Schulte, advisor for the Traveler and Hill Magazine, and Gerald Jordan, associate professor of print journalism. Attendees are also welcome to stop by the “Many Voices: Student Publications at the University of Arkansas” exhibit on Level 2 of Mullins. Here, spectators will find a selection of student publications from 1893 to the present.
“I think it’s important to document history this way because it really helps keep things transparent between media and readers, who will have easier access to all issues of the Traveler,” Reavis said.