In accordance with the ULS mission to “provide and promote access to information resources necessary for the achievement of the University's leadership objectives in teaching, learning, research, creativity, and community service, and to collaborate in the development of effective information, teaching, and learning systems,” the ULS will proactively identify and evaluate resources for conversion into electronic format to be hosted and served by the ULS. Material may be acquired in “born digital” format or converted into digital format. Materials selected will meet some or all of the following criteria:

• Facilitate instruction and learning primarily at the University of Pittsburgh, and secondarily at other higher educational institutions.
• Support research and programmatic interests of University of Pittsburgh faculty and students.
• Exhibit substantial intellectual quality.
• Contribute to the broader community good.

The ULS will:

• Support mounting of content created by University of Pittsburgh faculty and/or students.
• Provide an environment conducive to digitizing unique and/or original resources owned and maintained by the ULS, and regarded as collection strengths.
• Build upon existing digital resources to offer richer access to a range of related sources, thus providing a deeper comprehension of a subject.

To be sustainable, digital efforts will be integrated into the fabric of ULS services, including cataloging, resource discovery, public services, and long-term preservation of the digital objects. The ULS acknowledges that any projects undertaken to convert and/or provide online access will be in compliance with de facto best practices at that time. Whenever possible, all material subject to conversion and/or facilitated online access will be mounted on publicly available Web servers.

Approved 9 February 2005