Reconsidering your digital collections platform: Lessons from MTSU’s move from CONTENTdm to JSTOR Stewardship

Date: Thu, Oct 29, 2026
Time: 2pm - 3pm ET

Event Description:

As institutions consider the future of their digital collections, they may be taking a fresh look at what they need from a digital collections platform. Join us for a practical conversation with Kathleen Schmand (Dean, James E. Walker Library) about Middle Tennessee State University’s evaluation of seven platforms and its move from CONTENTdm to JSTOR Stewardship.

 

Together, we’ll explore what the transition has involved in practice—from coordinating work across library areas to making decisions about metadata, transcripts, archival context, system integrations, and preserving each collection's identity. We'll also hear how JSTOR's migration team partnered with MTSU to inventory collections, review source metadata, and validate an early test collection before moving the full set of materials.

 

We’ll also look at how MTSU’s move fits within the broader JSTOR Stewardship model, which connects collection management with preservation through Portico, access and discovery on JSTOR, and, for participating institutions, AI-assisted collections processing through JSTOR Seeklight.

 

Attendees will leave with a clearer picture of what a move can involve, how the institution and migration team work together, and what to consider as they plan their own next steps.

Note: Items marked with * are required.

 

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