Rediscover Your Institution’s History: Using an Institutional Repository to Highlight Special Collections Materials

Abstract

The launch of Savannah State’s Institutional Repository, Tiger Scholar Commons, coincided with the university’s 125th anniversary. When launching this repository, librarians Autumn Johnson, Sarah Kirkley, and library assistant Ann Ogden, used the opportunity to highlight some of the university’s Special Collections materials, such as photographs, yearbooks, newspapers, and faculty publications. These collections showcased the institution’s unique history as the first public historically black college in Georgia and were used in publications, social media campaigns, and even undergraduate work. This exceptional response during the quasquicentennial celebration led to renewed interest in Special Collections and established the repository as a valuable resource for the university.