DIGITISATION OF MANUSCRIPTS IN MOROCCO: A HISTORICAL RESEARCH ISSUE Boujdad Mkadem Abdelhamid, and Paul Nieuwenhuysen Department of Communication Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel = VUB, Belgium Bobcatsss Symposium Porto / Portugal 28/30 January 2009

Summary CONTEXT AND ISSUE CASE STUDY METHOD RESULTS & DISCUSSION CONCLUSIONS FUTURE DIRECTIONS CONTEXT AND ISSUE CASE STUDY METHOD RESULTS & DISCUSSION CONCLUSIONS FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Context and issue From paper to electronic media Physical vs virtual? From physical media to another physical media Paper/hard drives or cds Paper until now has proven a better longevity: many digital documents now are impossible to read. From paper to electronic media Physical vs virtual? From physical media to another physical media Paper/hard drives or cds Paper until now has proven a better longevity: many digital documents now are impossible to read.

Context and issue New issues are to be addressed : ◦How long does this material would last on the Internet? ◦Is it good quality? ◦Can people locate it? ◦Can/will people use it? ◦ why, what and how to preserve? New issues are to be addressed : ◦How long does this material would last on the Internet? ◦Is it good quality? ◦Can people locate it? ◦Can/will people use it? ◦ why, what and how to preserve?

Context and issue Moroccan old manuscripts digitisation issue: ◦Many collections of valuable manuscripts exist ◦Intervention is an emergency Moroccan old manuscripts digitisation issue: ◦Many collections of valuable manuscripts exist ◦Intervention is an emergency

Context and issue Intervention is needed because : Bad storage conditions Lack of financial resources for good physical archiving Intervention is needed because : Bad storage conditions Lack of financial resources for good physical archiving

Context and issue Digitisation is difficult… Lack of funding Lack of interest from potential stakeholders Expensive technology Digitisation is difficult… Lack of funding Lack of interest from potential stakeholders Expensive technology

Context and issue Good infrastructure for publication of cultural heritage to happen Easily accessible by educational communities and general public Good awareness of what is to be done Good infrastructure for publication of cultural heritage to happen Easily accessible by educational communities and general public Good awareness of what is to be done

Context and issue We have: From one side Collections to be saved From another users needs and intentions to know (Good understanding of end-users) We have: From one side Collections to be saved From another users needs and intentions to know (Good understanding of end-users)

Case study The survey: Sample : 31 students and researchers (including some teachers) Were previously shown a model of a digital library under Greenstone. The survey: Sample : 31 students and researchers (including some teachers) Were previously shown a model of a digital library under Greenstone.

Method Tools: Questionnaire design and application; Online questionnaire using phpsurveyor (open source). Tools: Questionnaire design and application; Online questionnaire using phpsurveyor (open source).

Results Most of the students: ◦Need access to the manuscripts ◦Still prefer accessing the collections directly by requesting access to the physical locations from the owners Most of the students: ◦Need access to the manuscripts ◦Still prefer accessing the collections directly by requesting access to the physical locations from the owners

Results Students benefit from rich commentaries and points of view from the owners of the manuscripts. Accessing educational resources on the net is not a common attitude to students in moroccan universities Students benefit from rich commentaries and points of view from the owners of the manuscripts. Accessing educational resources on the net is not a common attitude to students in moroccan universities

Conclusions Preliminary user needs evaluation and study is important before any digitisation begins The study may serve as a basis for future project (s) Preliminary user needs evaluation and study is important before any digitisation begins The study may serve as a basis for future project (s)

Other important facets Business models for the potential digital library ◦Institutional subscription, Personal subscription ◦Pay-per-view, Google Ads ◦Open Access ◦Mixed model Business models for the potential digital library ◦Institutional subscription, Personal subscription ◦Pay-per-view, Google Ads ◦Open Access ◦Mixed model

Future directions International collaboration is needed Aluka/ JSTOR Involvement at national and international levels (ministry of culture, Unesco) International collaboration is needed Aluka/ JSTOR Involvement at national and international levels (ministry of culture, Unesco)

Thank You for listening Bobcatsss Symposium Porto / Portugal 28/30 January 2009