Moving Forward: Enhancing Preservation of and Access to Oral Histories at UNLV University Libraries

Authors

Karla Irwin, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow

Publication Date

10-2016

Abstract

The Oral History Research Center (OHRC) at University of Nevada, Las Vegas Libraries holds recordings for over three thousand oral history interviews stored on audio cassette tapes and removable media. With the establishment of a new Technical Services department in Special Collections in 2014 came the opportunity to standardize description and enhance access and preservation of the audio and transcript files. A multi-phase approach has been employed to address legacy interviews, including a cassette digitization outsourcing project as well as procedures for preserving and providing access to the born-digital interviews. Accessioning procedures for new oral history interviews have also been established. This article addresses cross-departmental workflows, collection management techniques, and preservation policies established for these unique oral history collections.