Supported by a modest grant and collaboration with local historical societies, the California State University, Northridge, University Library assembled and created a digital archive of 2400 images of photographs, manuscripts, maps. postcards and brochures chronicling the history of the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles. In the process the Library learned valuable lessons about administering a digital library project and its metadata. Supported by a modest grant and collaboration with local historical societies, the California State University, Northridge, University Library assembled and created a digital archive of 2400 images of photographs, manuscripts, maps. postcards and brochures chronicling the history of the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles. In the process the Library learned valuable lessons about administering a digital library project and its metadata. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.