Temple University Libraries: Preserving History and Expanding Access
Temple University Libraries and the University Press advance the academic and civic priorities of the university through partnerships, collections, services that enhance learning, research, creative expression, and clinical practice, publishing, and engagement with the broad range of communities that comprise the university and the city of Philadelphia.
With the support of The Albert M. Greenfield Foundation, Temple University Libraries has advanced its mission through two key initiatives: the Digital Preservation Endowment and the enhancement of its Special Collections. These grants have allowed the library to protect its vast archives, ensure long-term digital preservation, and expand access to historically significant materials.
Digital Preservation Endowment: Safeguarding Knowledge for the Future
The Digital Preservation Endowment, supported by The Albert M. Greenfield Foundation, ensures the long-term sustainability of Temple University Libraries’ digital collections. In an era where information is increasingly stored digitally, the challenge is no longer just acquiring materials—it is ensuring that they remain accessible for generations to come.
Traditionally, digital preservation required costly on-site infrastructure, but as technology evolves, cloud-based solutions have become more viable and necessary. The endowment supports the transition from physical storage to a cloud-based model, securing essential resources for perpetual access to digitized collections. This shift allows Temple University Libraries to maintain and protect critical research materials, rare manuscripts, and historical archives while ensuring that scholars and the public can access them indefinitely.
Rather than simply funding digitization projects, this initiative focuses on sustaining the integrity of digital assets. By investing in long-term storage, management, and security, Temple University Libraries is taking an innovative approach to digital preservation—one that aligns with the evolving needs of academic institutions and the broader research community.
In addition to digital preservation, The Albert M. Greenfield Foundation supported Temple University Libraries’ new Charles Library with a major grant. The Albert M. Greenfield Special Collections Research Center Reading Room was named by the Foundation in 2017. This extraordinary space enables patrons to enhance their access to its rare manuscripts, historical documents, and other primary resource materials which document Philadelphia’s history and beyond.
Through this initiative, the library has also been able to digitize key materials and create new opportunities for community engagement to support research, teaching, and learning. This includes the preservation of historically significant documents, the expansion of digital repositories, and the development of programs that connect students, researchers, and the public with rare archival resources.
By increasing the visibility of these collections, Temple University Libraries is ensuring that these invaluable materials remain accessible to scholars, educators, and the public. The Foundation’s support has helped bridge the gap between historical preservation and modern accessibility, allowing these archives to reach wider audiences while maintaining their scholarly integrity.
Looking Ahead: Strengthening Temple’s Legacy
With the continued support of The Albert M. Greenfield Foundation, Temple University Libraries is advancing its mission of preserving knowledge and expanding accessibility. The library remains committed to safeguarding its collections, enhancing digital preservation efforts, and fostering engagement with historically significant materials.
Through these initiatives, Temple University Libraries is not only preserving the historical record, but it is also helping to shape the future of research, education, and public scholarship through its vast resources and services. As a result, current and future generations will have access to its important holdings which support Temple University’s academic mission.
Together, Temple University Libraries and The Albert M. Greenfield Foundation are ensuring that Philadelphia’s intellectual and historical treasures remain accessible, relevant, and impactful now and in the future.