University of North Texas UNT

Overview

The University of North Texas (UNT) is a public research university located in Denton, Texas. Founded in 1890, it is one of the largest universities in the United States by enrollment. UNT is particularly notable in the archival and information sciences world for its pioneering web archiving program and its CyberCemetery project, which preserves the digital presence of defunct U.S. government agencies.

History

UNT was established in 1890 as a teachers college and has grown into a comprehensive doctoral research university with more than a dozen colleges and schools. Its libraries — now known as the UNT Libraries — have been nationally recognized for digital preservation initiatives. In 1997, UNT became one of the first academic institutions in the United States to archive websites, partnering with the U.S. Government Printing Office through the Federal Depository Library Program to create the CyberCemetery. In 2006, NARA designated UNT Libraries an Affiliated Archives, making it one of only a handful of non-military educational institutions to receive this distinction.

Libraries and Archival Programs

UNT Libraries operate multiple branch libraries centered on the Willis Library (opened 1971) on the main Denton campus. The UNT Digital Library and the UNT Archives (established 1975) house more than 1,400 linear feet of processed records, oral history transcripts, and county records. The libraries are a founding member of the National Digital Stewardship Alliance and participate in major collaborative web harvesting projects including the End of Term Web Archive.