Where There’s A Will There’s A Way – Digitization at The University of Mary Washington

November 9, 2016

The University of Mary Washington’s Digital Archiving Lab in Fredericksburg, Virginia is currently
using the Book2Net Cobra overhead scanner to help convert the Simpson Library’s rare and unique archival materials into digital formats.

The Cobra utilizes two high-resolution area sensors in combination with high quality optics, safe handling and LED illumination to enable high-resolution scanning of fragile bound books and documents of various sizes.

Ristech/Kirtas originally installed the digitization system at the university during the fall semester of 2014.

Since that time, the Cobra has been involved in several important preservation initiatives. Over this past summer, the lab worked in collaboration with the Washington Heritage Museums and the Fredericksburg Circuit Court Archives to digitize the original will and testament of George Washington’s mother, Mary Ball Washington.

The digitization will enable staff and patrons access to high-quality digital representations of the will, which can then be reproduced electronically for exhibits without repeated handling of the extremely fragile original document.