rapid digitization & online access of collections

Perian Sully

for San Jose State University

chapter of Society of American Archivists

January 31, 2011

Fast method of digitizing collections of like sizeGreat for photographic, text, manuscript, map,

print, and other document collectionsUtilizes highest capture quality of digital SLR

cameraAccess-level images, not for large-scale

publicationInexpensive setup - $7,000 for camera, laptop,

copy stand, lights and cart (storage extra)One imaging technician can capture 700-1000

images/day

Mission-promoting - as more images increases potential for public to learn about and work with collection

Preservation – Opportunity to rehouse collections as they’re being digitized, and can assess condition when material is out. If there is a disaster or theft, images can be used to determine damage or loss. Images provide substitute for handling delicate materials.

Collection survey – Range of images allows curators or archivists to evaluate scope of collection and determine resources for further collecting.

Speed and cost of rapid digitization allows an institution to make their materials accessible in a short period of time.

Not highest-possible digitization qualityInfrastructure and storage needs must be

planned in advance and can be expensiveImages can be “lost in the shuffle” unless

staff are actively linking images to metadata and catalog records

Mission-driven – offers additional opportunities for scholars and public to learn about and from collections

Additional grant opportunitiesIncrease public awareness of primary source

materialsProtects institutional “authority” as trusted

repository for information and knowledgeWorkload reductionFocused exhibitions or exhibition materials

based on view and access countIncreased Rights & Reproduction revenue

Opportunities for crowdsourcing

Increases public goodwill and feelings about the institution

Opportunity for marketing around collectionsDrives traffic to other areas of institutional

website and may increase foot traffic due to increased awareness

Copyright status and policiesRights & Reproduction revenue impactsIncreased R&R requests affects staff workloadPublic use of public domain images isn’t legally

policeable by institutionNon-public domain images being used by

individuals in non-academic or “frivolous” waysImages being taken from websites without

consent

Institutional website

Social media

Social media –

Flickr (photos)YouTube (video)WorldCat (finding aids and collections. requires

account)Internet Archive (sound, books)Wikimedia (images, sound, video. public domain

only)SoundCloud (sound)Twitter/TwitPic (links to website pages and

photos)

Powerhouse Museum – Australia

Magnes Museum – Jews in China

Magnes Museum – Oppenheim Painting

Lavater and Lessing Visit Moses Mendelssohn (1856)by Moritz Daniel Oppenheim

San Diego Air and Space Museum

Perian SullyProject Manager: Digital Asset

Management and Online AccessBalboa Park Online

Collaborativepsully @bpoc.orgperian@emphatic.orgTwitter: @p_sullyWebsite: www.emphatic.orgBlog: www.musematic.netSlideshare: www.slideshare.net/psully