Image courtesy of WSU Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections

With the help of generous donors, the WSU Libraries has secured a highly technical new gadget—the Zeutschel Omniscan 14000 AO—that will help to digitize thousands of historical documents, including oversized books, newspapers, and maps, and make them broadly accessible via the Internet.

“This remarkable equipment allows us to share WSU’s big ideas with the world,” says Anna Wheatley, assistant director of development for The Libraries at WSU. “The possibilities for preserving and creating unique digital collections from WSU’s holdings are now unlimited.”

The scanner is a critical investment as many irreplaceable documents within the Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections department are showing the wear of time.

“To be able to put this stuff online and to be able to do it quickly and without damaging fragile works is just a wonderful thing,” says Mark O’English, University archivist.

The $125,000 investment needed for the purchase was made by more than 80 donors over the course of two years. Thanks to their generosity, The Libraries’ valuable collection will be readily available for the research and enjoyment of future generations.