From Fragile to Digital: Preserving Rare Books

Digitization can increase accessibility of rare and old materials, but comes with its own challenges

Posted on April 8, 2026 in Podcasts

What does it take to bring some of the smallest—and most fragile—volumes of the 18th century into the digital research environment? In this series, Gale acquisitions editor Eleanor Leese discusses the preservation and digitization of rare and understudied materials now available in Eighteenth Century Collections Online (ECCO) Part III. For scholars, these materials offer rich sources of inquiry, but prior to digitization, their availability is limited to those who could travel to study them. Digitization is the obvious solution, but it also brings its own challenges, especially for tiny books or those with unique features.

For those interested in the process of digitizing rare book collections, this episode of The Authority File will deepen your appreciation for the clever, intensive technical work that goes into creating neat digital documents.

Listen in:

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About the guest:

Eleanor Leese
Acquisitions Editor
Gale Primary Sources

Eleanor Leese is an Acquisitions Editor for Gale Primary Sources, where she develops new archival projects that expand research access to rare and understudied historical materials. Before joining Gale, she worked as a freelance editor supporting trade and academic authors, particularly in history and narrative non-fiction. She brings a background in historical research and editorial development to her work, with a focus on identifying collections that illuminate everyday lived experience and lesser-heard voices in the historical record.

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