Later additions to the Reference Shelf will include links to historical resources already available online, such as the Harvard Fact Book , published by the Budget Office. Electronic conversion of the reports also serves archival purposes. Like many older documents, the reports were printed on acidic wood-pulp paper, which makes the documents vulnerable to damage from age and handling. Eventually, the electronic image files will be copied to microfilm to create a preservation master set. In their current form, the reports are a consumable resource.
Pages are brittle and even broken.
By converting them to electronic form and microfilm, we will improve their current availability and ensure their availability for future use. Along with other similar programs funded through LDI's Internal Challenge Grant program, the success of the Harvard-Radcliffe Online Historical Reference Shelf prototype will make imminent a wealth of online resources for researchers.