Summary of Steps for Digitization
Define the Collection and its intended audience; answer the who, why, and how of use
- Size of the collection: how many objects are in it? Is it going to expand? If so, by how much?
- Is there descriptive text or information about each image? Are there catalog records? Existing information (a.k.a. metadata) that describes the images?
- Provide background information about the collection to explain what it is to potential users
Physically Digitizing the Collection
- Scanning/digital capture of materials or processing of existing images—decide how to capture things digitally or if you need to process images you already have
- Development of workflows for digital capture or processing
- Filenaming conventions for images
- Data Dictionary—create and maintain a complete list of fields of information this project will require (this is a process that the Metadata Librarian will go through with you)
- Sampling process—testing small batches of images and metadata to make sure the project owner understands how the project will appear online
- Digital sizing estimate—process to estimate how much disk space this project will take
- Archival plan for images
- Backup plan for metadata
- Upload the collection
- Proof and maintain the collection
Share your Collection - PR
- Inform your user base of the existence of your collection through campus PR, groups, associations
- Create a webpage which provides background and contact information on your collection
Contact the DAM committee for more info.
