Statewide digitization services support Massachusetts libraries, museums, historical societies, archives, and other cultural heritage institutions in making their historical collections accessible to researchers and communities statewide through Digital Commonwealth.

Collection Scope and Priorities

We welcome applications for digitizing complete collections or well-defined collection segments, including:

• Photographs and visual materials: Historic photographs, negatives, postcards, maps, posters
• Manuscripts and documents: Organizational records, personal papers, correspondence
• Bound volumes: Yearbooks, annual reports, institutional publications, serial publications

Typical project scope: Up to 50 bound volumes (approximately 15,000 pages) or 5,000 individual items from up to 5 distinct collections, though we work with institutions to develop projects that meet both collection needs and program capacity.

Application Priorities

We prioritize applications based on several factors to ensure equitable access to services:

• Institutions new to Statewide Digital services
• Collections that enhance geographic or topical diversity within Digital Commonwealth
• Materials ready for digitization with appropriate preparation
• Institutional commitment to making materials publicly accessible

Getting Started

Site visits and consultation: Our team provides customized consultative visits to help assess your materials, discuss digitization approaches, and plan project workflows.

Flexible delivery options: Upon request, digital files can be provided via portable media or download links.

Collaborative commitment: Participating institutions commit to making digitized materials available through Digital Commonwealth systems, expanding access for researchers and communities statewide.

Collection Preparation Support

We provide guidance for:

• Assessing collection condition and digitization readiness
• Developing appropriate metadata strategies
• Planning transportation and logistics
• Understanding digitization workflows and timelines

Important Considerations

Copyright responsibility: The BPL cannot and will not make assessments regarding the copyright status of materials submitted for digitization. The acceptance of a digitization request and the subsequent provision of digital reproductions by the BPL do not constitute permission by any copyright holder and are not a substitute for diligent compliance with all applicable copyright requirements.

Collection condition requirements: To ensure the safety of materials, staff, and equipment, BPL reserves the right to decline materials that exhibit signs of extensive fragility, disrepair, volatility, instability, mold, infestation, or other conditions that may adversely affect the digitization process. Our consultation process includes condition assessment to identify any concerns before materials are transported.

Materials We Cannot Currently Digitize

Our current capabilities do not include microforms, roll film, audio, or video materials. We encourage institutions with these formats to include them in applications so we can assess future service development priorities.

Next Steps

Ready to explore digitization for your collections? Contact digital@bpl.org to discuss your materials and institutional goals, or complete our application form to begin the consultation process.