Digitization Services

General Collection Materials

If you are affiliated with NIU (faculty, student, staff, or alumni), requests for digitization of materials from the General Collection can be placed via HuskieSearch:

1. Locate an item in HuskieSearch that does not have existing digital access.
2. Login and use the "Request: Digitization" option in the "Get It" area. If you do not see this option, the item may be held by Special Collections and Archives (see below).
3. Partial digitization requests (e.g. a chapter from a book) are typically fulfilled within 4 business days. Full digitization requests (e.g. an entire book) are reviewed for Copyright Clearance and approved on a case-by-case basis.

If you are not affiliated with NIU, digitization of materials from the General Collection may be requested through Interlibrary Loan.

For assistance with General Collection requests, please contact Information Delivery Services.

Special Collection Materials

Both affiliated and unaffiliated patrons can request digitization of materials held by the Library’s Special Collections and Archives, which includes Rare Books and Special Collections and the Regional History Center and University Archives. These requests are approved at the discretion of the librarian responsible for stewarding the requested materials, who will consider factors such as the condition of the materials to be digitized, the scope of the request, and any relevant donor restrictions.

1. If you locate an item in HuskieSearch that you are unable to request, then complete the Special Collections Digitization Request Form. You may also use this form to request digitization of materials that are not in HuskieSearch.
2. Digitization requests are typically fulfilled within 4 business days after approval, depending on the extent and complexity of the request.

You may also propose digitization projects, which often involve digitizing entire collections or a large number of items. If you have an idea for a digitization project, please reach out to your subject specialist or complete the Digitization Project Proposal Form and we will contact you. For assistance with special collections digitization requests, please contact the Digital Collections Department.