Ctrl+Alt+Archive: Navigating Born-Digital University Records and Publications

ABSTRACT Over the last few years, a new approach to collecting born-digital university archives content in Special Collections and Archives at UC San Diego Library has evolved as archivists incorporate flexible and forward-thinking accessioning practices. In the early 2000s, breaks in professional library staffing, the rise of digital records output, and a dramatic increase in the size and scope of the campus all contributed to significant gaps in the university archives. Archivists knew they had to rectify workflows and fill years-long gaps in the collections. The archivist and digital archivist now proactively collect born-digital records and publications by engaging directly with creators, using innovative techniques to capture files. This includes comprehensive planning, troubleshooting, and processing while accessioning. The authors present a scoped literature review and some examples of accessioning digital university records and publications that led to public access.