Materials and collections included in the digital library are selected based on their enduring value, the priorities and initiatives of contributing partners, and an assessment of existing online availability, quality, completeness, and long-term accessibility. Priority may be given to materials that are at risk of loss. To facilitate timely access, some collections or items may be minimally described or cataloged.

Materials included in the digital library are in the public domain, held in copyright by the University of South Dakota or the South Dakota Board of Regents, made available with permission from the rights holder(s), or provided online following an assessment of applicable rights and fair-use considerations under Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act.

The availability of materials in the digital library does not constitute permission to reproduce, publish, distribute, or otherwise use them beyond what is permitted by law. Rights status varies by item.

Researchers are responsible for determining and satisfying any copyright, privacy, publicity, donor-imposed, contractual, or other restrictions that may apply to their use of materials.

The University Libraries welcomes information regarding rights holders, restrictions, or concerns related to materials made available through the digital library.

The digital library uses FromThePage. to support the transcription and translation of historical documents. This collaborative platform enables students, researchers, and volunteers to create searchable text from digitized primary sources, improving accessibility and discovery while expanding opportunities for teaching, learning, and scholarship. Through crowdsourced transcription projects, participants contribute directly to preserving historical records and increasing public access to archival collections.

The South Dakota Oral History Center also engages volunteers for transcription, both remote and on-site. By creating transcripts of audio files, volunteers help improve accessibility, enhance discoverability, and expand access to the stories, experiences, and historical perspectives within the collections.

Digital library program staff provide consultation and support for University Libraries’ digital library projects. This support includes selection, rights and permissions review, project planning and management, workflow development, metadata creation, quality assurance, publication and access, and long-term preservation of archival primary files.

The program also develops and maintains long-term preservation infrastructure and digital library workflows and supports initiatives that advance the preservation, access, and discoverability of digital collections.

Materials are described and cataloged in accordance with the Digital Library of South Dakota Metadata Guidelines. If you would like a copy of the Metadata Guidelines, please contact the Digital Library.