Fort Hays State Creating Space Library

Fort Hays State University Plans to Begin Recording and Digitizing
Thousands of Space-Related Documents

The Associated Press


HUTCHINSON, Kan. Dec. 17 — Forsyth Library at Fort Hays State
University plans to begin recording and digitizing thousands of
space-related documents held at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space
Center to create an online library.
Officials announced the plans for the digital library, accessible
through the Cosmosphere and Forsyth Library Web sites, on Tuesday. The
first records may be available online by the end of January.

"This will allow anyone to examine these items without having to
handle them," said Cosmosphere President Jeff Ollenburger. "Our first
emphasis will be on digitizing archival material. But it would be
great to have everyone's museum collections digitized and out there
for people to study."

Forsyth Library Director John Ross will direct a team from the
university, including students, to catalog the Cosmosphere's archives
and prepare them to be digitized. Ross said the public won't be
charged an access fee.

University President Ed Hammond called the partnership "a perfect
fit."

"We will provide expertise for recording the museum's holdings,
thereby making them more accessible, and in return the partnership
will create wonderful new learning opportunities for Fort Hays State
students," he said.

He said students from the university's English, history, art and
information networking and telecommunications areas would likely
participate in the project.

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