Purpose: To tell the story of a particular digitisation project with which the author has been closely involved, illustrating the problems and scope of the project and focusing especially on the issues relating to the selection of appropriate content. Design/methodology/approach: This paper is based largely on personal involvement in the project and is the work of a historian who traces change over time. Findings: The paper records the history of the project and discusses what has been achieved to date, problems were encountered along the way, and what has been done to try to resolve them. Practical implications: There may be lessons to be learnt from this project for similar projects in other parts of the world. Originality/value: This paper is the first study of DISA to be written by a historian. (Contains 2 figures.)