Selecting Content for a Digitization Project Public Library Partnerships Project Carla Urban, Minnesota Digital Library Digital Public Library of America September 2015

Scope, Size, and Capacity Clearly define the scope of your project. Be realistic about the scale of your project. Don’t bite off more than you can chew! From the National Archives

Selection Criteria – Original and Unique Choose original, unique items Be wary of newspaper clippings From the New York Public Library

Selection Criteria – Not Previously Digitized

Selection Criteria – Physical Format & Size Are there formats or sizes that you, or your scanning center, are not equipped to digitize? For example: audio/visual, microform, poster-sized, 3-dimensional objects Does your project place a higher priority on some formats than others? For example, a preference for images over text? Are you able to transcribe handwritten or audio items?

Selection Criteria – Quality Be wary of fragile or brittle items. Prefer items in good physical condition.

Selection Criteria – Quality, cont’d Evaluate the clarity of images and documents Be wary of damaged items: Ripped or torn Faded Foxed Mildewed Water damaged Underexposed or overexposed

Selection Criteria - Subject Matter A clear project scope will help you evaluate subject content. Be disciplined about your project’s subject scope. Prefer items of local or national historical significance.

Selection Criteria – How much do you know about the item? Ojibwe women holding sticks to play Double Ball, Grand Portage, Minnesota - from the University of MN, Duluth

Selection Criteria – Processed or Cataloged

Selection Criteria – Rights and Access Consider rights when deciding what to digitize and be clear on your institution’s approach to rights management. Be clear on any copyright restrictions the item may bear. Strive for maximally open collections.

Selection Criteria Recap Project scope and capacity Original and unique Not previously digitized Physical format and size Quality Subject matter How much do you know about the item? Processed, cataloged or described Rights and Access