Bringing Historical Weather Data into the Digital Age

Legacy paper weather records often remain hidden in department drawers and closets. So it was at Plymouth State University until an effort was undertaken to digitize and load these artifacts into the PSU Institutional Repository. With the help of meteorology undergraduates, thirty-five years of detailed, unique local weather data were scanned, cataloged, and uploaded to the CONTENTdm platform. The processes and decisions involved in making the invisible not only visible, but discoverable through several new channels including the repository itself, WorldCat, and Google will be discussed, along with a tour of the digital collection. The presentation will detail the technical and personnel resources required for the project, as well as the challenges and benefits.