More than a Pretty Picture: Photograph & Digitization Management Noraleen A. Young CA Keeping History – GSUSA September, 2009

Basics First Steps Identification Description Arrangement Storage Preservation/Conservation Use

First Steps Does it fit within the scope of your collection policy? Where did it come from? Any information on the container/envelope? Any issues – smell, mold, unwelcome visitors?

Identification Format Cabinet card Black/white Color Polaroid® Slide Transparencies Digital

Identification Content Fashion (date those uniforms) Hair styles Cars/buildings Can you trust what you see?

Description On the item itself Cataloging system Standard information Title Date Creator/Photographer Description Size

Arrangement By type -- print, slide, etc By date – straight chronologically By topic – broad categories Mix of all three How do people use the collection?

Storage – hard copy Economy Removed and into folders Boxes/filing cabinets 1 st Class Basic identification Sleeve for each image Placed in folders and appropriate boxes

Storage – digital Short term storage Long term storage Metadata

Use Copyright Reproduction Access

Preservation/Conservation Special needs of photographs Handling Format identification

Digitization projects Identify a collection Develop process – use best practices Resolution Formats Storage Description Access Scan Quality control

Digitization Projects Resources Colorado Digitization Project Photo Sharing -- National Archives/Library of Congress

Wrap Up Details Time intensive Many possible uses