Digital Scholarship and Preservation

The Digital Scholarship and Preservation program supports faculty, scholars, and Library partners in digitizing, archiving, and publishing scholarly content and resources in NYUAD Library’s preservation repository. The DSP is responsible for ensuring that digital archival materials are captured, stored, and preserved following international preservation standards. The DSP can shepherd digital projects from their inception to their eventual archival treatments, creating responsible lifespans for these projects and their related data. We work closely with our Archives and Special Collections department to bring historic resources into the digital world and to capture and archive new resources responsibly. We also collaborate with faculty on specialized research projects that utilize innovative approaches to library collections using digital tools and methods.

Digital Preservation 

Digital preservation at NYU Abu Dhabi Library is informed by both the vision and mission of NYU Abu Dhabi at large and the mission and values of NYU Libraries as a global organization. 

The NYU Abu Dhabi Library is committed to taking a lead role in preserving knowledge, scholarship, heritage and history – primarily through its local Archives and Special Collections program, which exists to provide access to rare and unique primary source materials that support the teaching and research needs of students and faculty, and promote scholarship and interest in the history of the UAE, the Gulf, the Arabian Peninsula, the wider region, and the University’s history. Our charge is situated in the context of being an institution that is both part of the NYU global network and in and of Abu Dhabi and for the World. 

In support of this mission, the Library leads a growing Digital Preservation Program designed to ensure that valuable digital content, whether born-digital or digitized, is preserved, protected, and made accessible for the long term. This work is essential to maintaining the scholarly, cultural, and institutional memory of NYU Abu Dhabi, and reflects our deep commitment to stewardship, sustainability, and service. Our digital preservation efforts are grounded in internationally recognised standards and guided by ongoing assessment, collaboration, and transparent decision-making.

Digital preservation at NYUAD is not a one-time project but an ongoing responsibility. We dedicate resources to ensure that our collections remain accessible, regardless of technological change, format obsolescence, or environmental risks. Materials are prioritised for preservation based on their research value, usage, fragility, and risk of loss, with careful consideration of copyright and ethical access.

The program is led by a cross-functional team including Library leadership, Archives and Special Collections staff, and Digital Scholarship and Preservation staff, and is supported by partners across NYUAD. Together, we work to safeguard digital assets, build technical infrastructure, maintain metadata standards, and ensure secure, responsible access for our global user community. Our approach balances preservation with access, ensuring that materials are as open as possible and only restricted when necessary.

Read more in our Digital Preservation Statement.

Digital Collections

For NYU Affiliated, visit nyuad.access.preservica.com.

For open collections, visit nyuad2.access.preservica.com.

View our finding aids for more collections.

Project Collaborations

Read more about the Digital Preservation Program's support for various academic initiatives.

Meet Our Team