The Alaska Virtual Library and Digital Archives project is a collaborative effort initiated by the Rasmuson Library at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the Consortium Library at the University of Alaska Anchorage, and the Alaska State Library in Juneau. Learn more about our partners. Now in its third phase, the initiative is funded by a congressional award and contributions from these institutions with additional support of the Rasmuson Foundation. The goal of the project is to support the instructional and research needs of Alaskans and others interested in Alaska history and culture. Initial activities focused on scanning, indexing, and placing 5,000 historical images into an online, searchable database.

Subsequent project phases have involved adding materials into the database in multiple formats such as oral histories, maps, documents, film clips and three dimensional objects. The collection now includes over 10,000 items. Project partners continue to add new materials to the database and are producing a guidebook identifying lessons learned. They are also preparing to make recommendations to other organizations throughout the state related to practices for participating in this venture.