The Pratt Institute Libraries’ Digital Image Collections reflect the Libraries’ ongoing initiative to provide electronic access to high-quality digital images for teaching, learning and research. In early 2002, the Visual Resources Center began efforts to digitize the Libraries’ existing slide collection, which later became accessible via a password-protected Image Kiosk on the Libraries’ website. In 2004, the Visual Resources Curator and the Librarians began to investigate alternative options for providing the Pratt community with a more extensive collection of high-quality digital images to fully support the Pratt Community.

In the summer of 2005, the Pratt Institute Libraries decided to invest in Luna Imaging's content management system in order to address the growing need for quality digital images across all art, architecture and design disciplines. The Luna Imaging system provides the means by which the Visual Resources Center can continue to develop the in-house digitization of its slide collection while also facilitating the growth of other digitization projects. Through Luna Imaging's Insight software, the Libraries can interface with remote digital collections, and facilitate the use of digital images in the classroom environment. The Pratt Institute Visual Resources Center Images is the collection of primary use for the Pratt Community, and will continue to grow.

In early 2005, the Pratt Institute Libraries also received a grant from the Metropolitan New York Library Council (METRO) to support the digitization of a selection of materials drawn from the Pratt Institute Archives and the Libraries’ Special Collections. We are pleased to announce that the METRO project will now provide the community with access to four unique collections, the Pratt Institute Archives Negative Collection, the Pratt Institute Archives Photograph Collection, the Pratt Institute Ex Libris Collection and the Pratt Institute Fashion Plate Collection. For more information about the METRO project or to access these collections please click on an individual collection, or visit the METRO project website.