WHAT IS DIGITAL COLLECTIONS?

THE UNIT

THE PROJECT

Digital Collections as a “repository” One back-end database that could be searched through multiple web fronts… But a common repository interface that can accommodate everything

DIGITAL COLLECTIONS

What’s the Big Picture Our Needs Ending the creation of more “silos” Allows us to standardize our own procedures for metadata and digitization The ability to absorb digitized items in a continual, ad hoc process Our Users’ Needs Easy ability to browse through the repository More power to follow connections between items Access to as many items as we can make available, even if they aren’t perfect

DIGITAL COLLECTIONS: BEHIND THE SCENES

Web interface SQL Database objects Index XML database

Request / Initialize Project Digitization Metadata Programming

Request / Initialize Project

Current Selection Model: Ad Hoc We collect into the repository objects digitized via day to day activities – Patron requests – Exhibit/publication needs – Preservation needs So far the department has done ALL of the digitization, but this may change to a more distributed system The individual digital objects are added and when possible added to generic “thematic” collections They are also linked to finding aids whenever possible

Selecting “collections” Larger groups of materials to digitize – Perhaps small collections or parts of collections – Perhaps across collections – More than 50 scans OR anything requiring audio or visual conversion – No pressing deadline Can have a “collection” status online or can simply be added to the repository MUST be free of copyright and privacy issues

Digitization

Metadata

Programming

WHAT’S NEXT FOR DIGITAL COLLECTIONS?

What’s Next? The Good: Implementing the OAI-PMH to expose records More collection-based digitization Revamping our EAD interface and the navigation between finding aids and the digital repository Migrating the objects in older static-HTML exhibits into the new repository Adding more audio Participating with UNC-CH and the State Library on an NC ECHO grant Developing the NC Digital Collections Collaboratory The Bad: An operating budget of close to $0 (our equipment is still in pretty good shape and we recently bought some space) The Ugly: A dramatic decrease in student help