Preparing Collections for Digitization

Citation

Manžuch, Z. (2012), "Preparing Collections for Digitization", The Electronic Library, Vol. 30 No. 2, pp. 309-310. https://doi.org/10.1108/02640471211221403

With the advent of large‐scale digitisation initiatives in archives, libraries and museums the need for advice on practical aspects of digital conversion is increasing. Publications on digitisation are abundant. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of guidance on designing certain digitisation workflows and coping with very practical issues. Preparing Collections for Digitization is an attempt to fill this gap. It draws attention of practitioners to the vital issue for any memory institution: how to use the benefits of digitisation and preserve the originals.

Despite the initial enthusiasm to migrate to and manage heritage collections solely in the digital space, digitisation is still not a secure preservation method for many reasons. These are the lack of working digital preservation solutions and mainstream adoption of these practices in memory institutions as well as the limited ability of a digital surrogate to convey certain features of the original. Therefore, preservation of the original is crucial. However, no one can deny the advantages of digitisation in terms of wide access to collections that would otherwise be unavailable for learning and scholarly use. The authors of the book offer a set of thoughtful and effective solutions how to combine access and preservation objectives in digitisation initiatives.

Archive and library professionals in charge of management and preservation of heritage collections will find this book particularly useful. It is relevant for those involved in the digitisation and preservation of archival records, printed collections and manuscripts. The roles of collection managers and conservators as well as their contribution to producing quality digital images and avoiding harm to collection items are discussed in nine chapters of the book. It addresses the issues of selecting, preparing for digitisation, collection imaging, and organising the image capturing workflow. The focus on developing cost‐efficient workflows and collaboration between collection managers, conservators and digital imaging teams makes this publication relevant to managers of digitisation initiatives.

A practical approach is at the heart of this publication. How to evaluate the nature and extent of physical damage of collection items? What are the possible ways to deal with document formats and fastenings to achieve good imaging quality without compromising preservation objectives? What equipment should be selected to reach both digital imaging and preservation goals? How a digital imaging workflow should be organised to accommodate document preparation and conservation tasks? These are just several examples of questions addressed in different chapters.

The extensive experience of both authors in digitising and preserving heritage collections at the National Archives of the United Kingdom and the case studies presented in all chapters add more value to this publication.