beyond the shelf : providing access to historic microfilmed materials
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Beyond the Shelf : Providing Access to Historic Microfilmed Materials. A presentation for EDUCAUSE Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries. What we did Why we did it How we did it Lessons learned. Why we think this is a viable model for others Our next steps. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Beyond the Shelf: Providing Access to Historic Microfilmed Materials
A presentation for EDUCAUSE
Mary MolinaroUniversity of Kentucky Libraries
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
Beyond the Shelf Unplugged
• What we did
• Why we did it
• How we did it
• Lessons learned
• Why we think this is a viable model for others
• Our next steps
Kentucky and the South
•Gateway•Local context for national issues
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
Microfilm = Preservation
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
soliNET and Microfilming
• Cooperative Preservation Microfilming Project (CPMP1-7)
• 1990-present
• Kentucky participation 1992-2004
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
Bibliography of Kentucky History – J Winston Coleman
• 3,571 items
• 76 categories
• 18th century to mid-20th century coverage
• Published 1949
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
Kentucky History on Microfilm
• Over 5,000 titles filmed as a part of the CPMP
• 1,500 titles from the Coleman bibliography
• 30,000 reels of historic newspapers and manuscripts
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
Digitization = Better Access
• Users really prefer access from the desktop
• Expands access
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
“Okay”, we said, “You want it, we’ll make it!
First question: Do we create files from –
• Source documents (which are likely brittle, bound and guarded by that ogre librarian with the nasty cattle prod)
or….
• Microfilm (leaving the master negative in the vault where it’s safe while using the service negative, or print master)?
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
The choice was obvious
Our pilot proved that microfilm is the fastest and safest method to provide access while preserving the source documents.
Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
What we proposed…
A 2 year project to create a fully searchable digital page image archive of 950 rare historic Kentuckiana books using a microfilm to digital methodology.
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
The case we made …
• Digital images ensure easy access and wide distribution
• This hybrid, standards based non-proprietary approach can serve as a model for cost effective access and preservation for published materials
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
The case we made …
• Students, teachers and scholars will use this material to support their research and teaching.
• Our collection has national significance and will be of interest to scholars and students outside Kentucky
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
Collaboration
• Kentucky Virtual Library – Kentuckiana Digital Library
• UK Libraries– Electronic Information Access and
Management Center– Preservation Department
• soliNET• Kentucky Assn of Teachers of History
(KATH)
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
Grant approved!
• IMLS awarded $210,237
• 2 year project October 2002-Sept 2004
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
Ramp up
• Hired 2 Image Management Specialists
• Trained staff
• Ordered supplies
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
So, how do we make these things?
• First we scan!
• Mekel M525 scanner
• Using the service master negative
• Manual scans instead of automatic
• Scanner splits images into their respective pages
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
Challenge #1
• Mekel scanner’s “turnkey system” operated exclusively with Windows NT
• Windows NT was a real drag!– Slow as molasses– Crashed frequently– The blue screen of death lurked about when
scanning grayscale images
• Windows 2000 greatly improved productivity – installed July 2003 and it hasn’t crashed yet!
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
Lessons Learned #1
• Quality matters!
• Quality costs!
Original source document (grayscale)
Source document as bitonal image, 600dpi (scanned as a grayscale image then converted to bitonal)
Microfilm bitonal image, 400dpi(scanned as a bitonal image, no conversion necessary)
Post QC(from microfilm)
Post QC image
Source document image
Microfilm image
Discovery and Access
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
Cataloging Thin Air
• All of the Beyond the Shelf digital books were cataloged before they were actually created.
• Derive electronic records using constant data from the microfilm bibs
• Create purls using the OCLC number of the microfilm bib as the unique identifier.
Discovery: UK Library Catalog
Discovery: KY Virtual Library
Discovery: Kentuckiana Digital Library
Discovery: BTS Website
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
Challenge #2
• Migration from Dynaweb to DLXS– Loss of functionality that we had come to
know and love– No longer had to create derivative images
(DLXS creates on the fly)
• End of year one 22% only complete– Not really utilizing student employees
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
Costs – cheaper than we had estimated!
Estimate• 200,000 pages• 950 volumes• $1.60-$2.25 per page• $342 per volume
Actual• 226,386 pages• 1,069 volumes• $ .47 per page• $91.50 per volume
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
How did this happen?
• We got better at the process
• We used students when we could
• DLXS streamlined the process
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
Outcomes Based Evaluation
• Are Kentucky students learning better as a result of our project?
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
What did we learn?
• Scanning from film is a viable option
• We could migrate platforms successfully
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
We believe
In short, we’re making good stuff for the right reason, the right way.
Mary Molinaro University of Kentucky Libraries [email protected]
Next steps
• Digitizing the Coleman bibliography
• Moving from a project to a program
• Digitizing historic newspapers