undigitized

Undigitized refers to materials that have not been converted into digital form and are not readily accessible through digital systems. In libraries, archives, museums, and similar institutions, an item is described as undigitized when it exists only as a physical object or when available digital copies are incomplete, restricted, or not yet created. The term helps distinguish portions of a collection that are accessible online from those that require in-person handling or physical reproduction to study.

Undigitized materials span a wide range, including books, manuscripts, photographs, audio and video recordings, maps, architectural plans, and artefacts. They are often contrasted with digitized items or digitized collections, which have been scanned, photographed, or otherwise converted to digital formats and typically accompanied by metadata and, in many cases, full-text searchability through OCR.

The status of a collection as undigitized has implications for access, discovery, and preservation. Undigitized objects may be less discoverable to researchers who rely on online catalogs and digital repositories. They may also face greater risks from physical deterioration and may require conservation work before digitization can proceed. Digitization programs address these needs by prioritizing items based on research value, condition, rights, and resource availability, then producing digital surrogates, metadata, and preservation copies.

Challenges in digitization include funding, staffing, rights clearance, technical standards, and ongoing digital preservation. While digitization expands access and safeguards content, undigitized materials remain an important focus for institutions seeking to broaden online availability and ensure long-term preservation. See also digitization, digital preservation, metadata, and access initiatives.