Digital Scans Continue to Be Available from UW Special Collections

Yesterday, MAin2 wrote this piece about the closure of the photo lab at UW and how that would mean the public could no longer obtain reproductions (in print and high resolution digital files) of historic photographs from Special Collections. We asked you to write to UW Administrators to voice your concern. Your voices were heard! Thank you for taking the time to express your concerns and how you value Special Collections.

Please read the comments posted on this blog regarding the closure of the photo lab. Notable comments are the two posted by Paul Constantine, Associate Dean of University Libraries and Director of Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries and the comment posted by Christina Burtner, one of the two photographers who work at the Classroom Support Services (CSS) Photo Lab. Check out the CSS Photography blog and learn more about these fabulous professional photographers who have been running the lab.

MAin2 is happy to report that the University of Washington Special Collections will be working with a new service provider for digital scans of materials.  Here’s a message received today from Paul Constantine,

“Thanks to all who have expressed concern about the impact of the closure of the CSS Photo Lab on users of Special Collections. I am writing to let you know that as of January 20, 2012, Special Collections will be working with a new service provider for digital scans of our materials. While this digitization service will continue without interruption, I ask your patience as we work out new workflows and procedures.

Thank you for sharing your concern and for your support of excellence in the UW Libraries. I hope that you will continue to make use of Special Collections.”

The Special Collections website has already changed its message from yesterday and now states that they will be working with a new service provider. Thank you UW Administrators!