Digitizing Bobst is smart yet risky

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following editorial by the WSN Editorial Board was written based on the article titled "NYUAD: Entire Bobst holdings will be digitized" from the Oct. 19 issue of WSN. Since that date, the article has been amended. View the corrected article here.

As part of NYU's relationship with Abu Dhabi, Bobst Library will soon begin to digitize its collection — on the crown prince's dime. This will enable all NYU students, no matter their location, to access every volume in the library's collection.

The WSN Editorial Board thinks the benefits of a digitized library are innumerable. Access to all Bobst stacks though an online, searchable database will help all students and faculty, and the project shows that NYU is on the forefront of embracing technology in academia.

However, some members of our board feel a sense of uneasiness over the project's funding. The Abu Dhabi government will cover 100 percent of the costs in digitizing Bobst, just as it has covered all costs in building NYU's campus in Abu Dhabi.

Some of us think the funding for this project brings into question the autonomy of the Washington Square campus. We wonder if the emirate will feel a sense of entitlement. We also think Abu Dhabi may be overstepping its boundaries; it's almost like we are giving away a bit of control of Bobst to Abu Dhabi. What happens if relations between the two campuses sour?

We understand this project would not be possible without Abu Dhabi's funding. And thus, we are at a crossroads: We know the project is a smart move, but we wish NYU had more invested in it. Some of us also wonder if this may lead to financial dependence on sources other than our own.

The WSN Editorial Board has representation from the Student Senators Council, and that member does not share the feeling of unease. The chairperson of the council said the difference in opinion might be the result of this member's direct involvement with and understanding of Abu Dhabi. She has been to the campus with NYU administration, and she is somewhat involved in discussions surrounding the site. The money's source, she thought, was not an issue, and she encourages students and representation alike to better engage in a dialogue about NYUAD.

We recognize that this debate is a microcosm of NYUAD in general. We have no answer or conclusion to it, either. But we do want to open up a dialogue about NYUAD and the university's transparency regarding it.

Bobst's digitization is obviously good. But will it someday lead to Abu Dhabi exerting even more influence on Washington Square?

E-mail the editorial board at editboard@nyunews.com.