The GTU has been collaborating with the Internet Archive in an ambitious digitization project, making rare and essential theological resources accessible to a global audience. The initiative represents GTU’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that its unique collections, which are foundational to theological and religious scholarship, remain available to researchers even as space within the library becomes more limited and classes welcome students at a distance through online programs.
The Graduate Theological Union (GTU) has been collaborating with the Internet Archive (IA) in an ambitious digitization project, making rare and essential theological resources accessible to a global audience. This partnership, initiated in 2022, has already digitized over 30,000 out of the 60,000 volumes identified for the project. The initiative represents GTU’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that its unique collections, which are foundational to theological and religious scholarship, remain available to researchers even as space within the library becomes more limited and more and more classes welcome students at a distance through online programs.
The collaboration with IA came about during a time of significant transformation for GTU’s library. Colyn Wohlmut, GTU’s Digitization and Conservation Librarian, highlights the logistical and financial benefits of this partnership. “The Internet Archive paid for everything,” Wohlmut states, emphasizing that GTU has incurred no direct costs for the digitization of its materials. IA handles the collection, packing, and shipping of books, as well as the non-destructive process of digitization itself. This has allowed GTU to continue building its physical collection while creating digital surrogates of volumes that can be accessed anywhere in the world.
The scope of the partnership is far-reaching. The Internet Archive, headquartered in San Francisco, manages similar projects with numerous institutions. IA has extensive experience in digitizing theological collections, including those of Princeton Theological Seminary and Claremont School of Theology. Wohlmut explains that IA’s ability to absorb the costs of preserving donated materials, including shipping books to their digitization facility, made it an ideal partner for this project.
GTU’s library staff is playing a key role in ensuring the success of this initiative. Wohlmut; Clay-Edward Dixon, Collection Development Librarian; and David Stiver, Archivist, work together to prioritize materials for digitization based on research value, uniqueness, and global demand. Dixon focuses on the needs of the GTU community, while Stiver contributes insights from scholars around the world who request access to specific items. Together, they manage the deaccessioning process, determining which materials can be digitized without compromising future research needs.
An important element of this project is the digitization of GTU’s rare and fragile books, which are carefully handled on-site. IA provides equipment and trained staff for this process, ensuring that these materials, some of which date back centuries, are treated with the utmost sensitivity. Wohlmut reassures the GTU community: “If we can’t protect a book during the digitization process, we won’t do it. We have tools in place, like foam supports and plastic sheets, to ensure minimal strain on these priceless items.” In cases where materials are too fragile to be digitized safely, conservation efforts are undertaken.
Although digitization of donated materials is fully funded by IA, the rare book digitization is financed equally by IA and the GTU. To further reduce the financial burden on GTU, their portion is supplied entirely through external grants. Wohlmut notes that grants from the Richard Lounsbury Foundation and the American Theological Librarians Association have provided critical funding, and that funds continue to be sought from philanthropic organizations to ensure the project’s successful completion.
As GTU continues this partnership, the next steps include digitizing the remaining volumes and integrating these resources into the GTU’s digital library catalog, a process that will be led by Kathy Farrell, GTU’s Systems Manager and Metadata Librarian. Once finished, the project will offer global scholars free access to a wide array of theological texts, contributing to broader research initiatives. This partnership reflects the GTU’s forward-thinking approach to preserving its collection while embracing the digital future.
In Wohlmut’s words, “I have been very impressed with the professionalism and efficiency of the Internet Archive. This partnership has exceeded our expectations and ensures that our collections remain relevant and accessible to both current and future scholars.”