Every library has an unique collection that is a hidden gem and that is attached to questions on how to make it easily accessible and how to bring it from its physical existence to the digital world. As an example for this kind of collection, this lightening talk focuses on the approximately 40.000 vinyl records that the University of Calgary Library holds. These records include unique classical, folk, jazz, and popular music and are primarily uncatalogued and therefore not accessible to students, faculty and the community. In recent years, vinyl records have regained popularity, especially with millennials and the generation Z. New music has been widely released on vinyl in connection with the opportunity for buyers to download the LP’s music digitally.

This lightening strike session will cover a proposed project at the University of Calgary to preserve the library’s unique collection but also provide an analog and physical listening experience in a primarily digital music world. The goal is to develop an easily accessible digital and physical listening space. This will entail the creation of a vinyl records listening space in the Taylor Family Digital Library, including a digitizing/streaming device (for example Transvinyl TVL 1) that simultaneously digitizes, pulls metadata from the internet and streams physically played vinyl records. Additionally, the creation of an online presence will facilitate easier access to the collection for students and faculty. Once completed, this project will provide access to course material, digitized material and include playlists curated by students and faculty. This analog/digital project will create easy accessibility, patrons as creators, online sharing and most importantly, new opportunities for teaching, learning and research. This design to make an unique collection digitally available in connection with the opportunity to experience it physically, is the primary take away to this session.