Digital Delicacies. University of Auckland Library 2001

DIGITAL DELICACIES

University of Auckland General Staff Conference University of Auckland General Staff Conference 20012001

Rose HolleyRose HolleyDigital Projects LibrarianDigital Projects Librarian

Networked InformationNetworked InformationUniversity of Auckland LibraryUniversity of Auckland Library

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Can we have our cake and eat it ?

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Overview

What is digitisation?What is digitisation?

Why and how is it done?Why and how is it done?

Digital Delicacies from around the world.Digital Delicacies from around the world.

University of Auckland ProjectsUniversity of Auckland Projects

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What is Digitisation ?

Converting a physical item into digital Converting a physical item into digital formats.formats.

Digital Formats =Digital Formats = Images (jpg, gif, tiff, pdf)Images (jpg, gif, tiff, pdf) Movie clips (mpg, mov)Movie clips (mpg, mov) Sounds (mp3, wav)Sounds (mp3, wav) Text (Html, XML)Text (Html, XML)

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Why Digitise ? Increases access to itemsIncreases access to items

Items can be searched/manipulated in a new wayItems can be searched/manipulated in a new way

Higher usage of items - many users x 24hr accessHigher usage of items - many users x 24hr access

Original items are preservedOriginal items are preserved

Valuable research and academic collections createdValuable research and academic collections created

Virtual collections formedVirtual collections formed

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What sort of items ?

BooksBooks Old manuscriptsOld manuscripts NewspapersNewspapers MapsMaps LettersLetters DiariesDiaries DrawingsDrawings

JournalsJournals Music ScoresMusic Scores Museum ArtefactsMuseum Artefacts PaintingsPaintings Works of ArtWorks of Art PhotographsPhotographs SlidesSlides

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How do we bake the digital delicacies ?

Many cooksMany cooks

Good IngredientsGood Ingredients

Tools and ExpertiseTools and Expertise

TimeTime

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Cooks

Project ManagerProject Manager Digital SpecialistsDigital Specialists Software DevelopersSoftware Developers Web DevelopersWeb Developers IT SupportIT Support Database Database

AdministratorsAdministrators

Subject SpecialistSubject Specialist LibrariansLibrarians ArchivistsArchivists CataloguersCataloguers Collection ManagersCollection Managers Clerical StaffClerical Staff

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Ingredients

Appropriate Materials MoneyAppropriate Materials Money

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Tools and Expertise

Digital Tools – MetadataDigital Tools – Metadata Digital Standards – Image QualityDigital Standards – Image Quality Hardware – Scanners, Cameras, PC’sHardware – Scanners, Cameras, PC’s Software – Database, OCR, Image Software – Database, OCR, Image

Management SystemsManagement Systems Expertise – Data Conversion, Cataloguing. Expertise – Data Conversion, Cataloguing.

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Time

Never under Never under estimate the time estimate the time involved………involved………

for preparation, for preparation, cooking and cooking and eating eating

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Recipe for Success…….

DedicationDedication FlexibilityFlexibility Clear objectiveClear objective Positive AttitudePositive Attitude Spirit of AdventureSpirit of Adventure

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Rose says……..

“ “Digitisation is a challenge. It opens the door Digitisation is a challenge. It opens the door to new technologies and new techniques of to new technologies and new techniques of information delivery. It is a useful tool that information delivery. It is a useful tool that enables us to successfully achieve our enables us to successfully achieve our information goals and needs in a global information goals and needs in a global society.”society.”

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Or to put it another way:

““It’s difficult but worth it!”It’s difficult but worth it!”

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… yes we can have our cake and eat it ….enjoy the picnic!

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Digital Picnic

Significant collections from:Significant collections from:

USA Australia Scotland UK NZ

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University of Auckland Projects

ExamBaseExamBase

NZ Electronic Poetry NZ Electronic Poetry CentreCentre

Art History Images DatabaseArt History Images Database

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Overview

What is digitisation?What is digitisation?

Why and how is it done?Why and how is it done?

Digital Delicacies from around the world.Digital Delicacies from around the world.

University of Auckland ProjectsUniversity of Auckland Projects

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Summary

Digitisation – increases access, preserves Digitisation – increases access, preserves materials, creates new collections.materials, creates new collections.

Many international initiativesMany international initiatives Collaboration encouragedCollaboration encouraged Takes time, money and expertiseTakes time, money and expertise Results are worth itResults are worth it