BAD Times and Good Stuff at the University of Arkansas.

Abstract

February 2012, the Special Collections at the University of Arkansas Libraries released BAD Times: a Digital Collection of the Black Americans for Democracy Newspapers. The project provided access to digital versions of twenty issues of the newspaper published by the first African American student organization at the University of Arkansas.   This paper addresses rationales for taking on the project, the methodology employed, and outcomes. The project represented an outreach opportunity that would allow the Special Collections Department to connect with diverse student bodies on campus while setting forth a model for future digital initiatives. How successful the digital outreach has been and what the department has learned through the process is guiding strategic planning as the University’s Libraries strive to promote both the uniqueness and educational potential of its collections.