A Digital Repository for Beach Management Data

Abstract

The Galveston Island Park Board of Trustees, a governmental entity created in 1962 by the Texas Legislature, is responsible for preserving and promoting the Island's natural resources, including its beaches. The Park Board produces data and documents -- studies, reports, policy advisories, and other information -- which may not necessarily fall under the purview of government document depository mandates, but should still be openly accessible to citizens. Texas A&M University at Galveston, as an institute dedicated to higher education and scholarship in the marine sciences, marine engineering, and maritime professions, is a natural home for this kind of scientific and economic information. In January 2014, the Jack K. Williams Library at Texas A&M - Galveston and the Galveston Island Park Board of Trustees formed a partnership to create a repository for preservation and open sharing of these documents. This brief presentation will outline our progress to date.