Community-based Research GrantPresentation

24 April 2014

The project team

J. Stephen CatlettDigital Project Manager, University Libraries, UNCG

David GwynnDigital Projects Coordinator, University Libraries, UNCG

Megan CokerGraduate Student, MA, History with a Concentration in Museum Studies

Rachel SandersSenior Undergraduate Student, History

The project team

Megan Coker in Digital Projects

Rachel Sanders in Special Collections and Archives

Digital history projects

Pittsburgh

Denver

Digital history projects

Projects at UNCG

Projects at UNCG

Projects at UNCG

Projects at UNCG

Projects at UNCG

Projects at UNCG

CBR Project Goals

• Assess the needs of local groups to determine how best to preserve and share archival materials

• Develop strategies and “best practices” to preserve these materials in the field using digital cameras and other cost-effective, user-friendly systems.

• Disseminate this new content to the public.• Share “how-to” materials with community partners.• Build relationships and move toward the goal of a

true community history web portal.

College Place United Methodist Church Archives

First Steps

Initial meeting, September 12

First Steps

Selecting materials to digitize

First Steps

Organizing and preparing

Selecting cameras to use

The Initial Process

$100 $650 $1600

In The Field

Setting up a camera

In The Field

Documenting location, date, camera & item

In The Field

Squaring and centering

In The Lab

Flatbed scanners yield much better digitized products

Their disadvantage is in positioning bound volumes

ChallengesLighting

Optimal lighting at College Place Church was found in a children’s classroom. Windows faced north, with more even illumination.

Another advantage of the children’s room? Very short tables … great for copying height … more challenging for the team !

ChallengesLighting

Overhead fluorescent lighting in Lindley Elementary media center created major issues with glare (see bottom left)

Compare, at left, to holding camera by hand in a dark corner. Glare minimized, but even illumination was a challenge.

ChallengesKeeping Items Flat

Using fingers Using pointers

Using a piece of glass

ChallengesKeeping equipment stable

Duct tape is one inexpensive solution

Camera vs. Scanner

Flatbed scanners: Slower, with better quality scans Digital Cameras: Faster, but quality depends on camera & technique

Quality Comparison

OCR Quality

Nikon camera

OCR Quality

Sony camera

OCR Quality

Epson scanner

Digitization Examples

Minute Book Spring Garden Street Methodist Episcopal Church, 1916-1930

Fuji camera

Digitization Examples

Price Class

Memories

Epson scanner

Digitization Examples

Architectural Plans and Elevations. Harry Barton, 1919

Sony camera

Digitization Examples

Community Outreach

81 local groups and organizations were solicited to participate in an online survey

and a meeting at CPUMC.

Community Outreach

Preserving Local History Blog

Community Outreach

November 19th

meeting at

CPUMC

Results

81 Solicitations (61 email & 20snail mail)

17 Responses (21%)

Preserving Local History Survey

Results

Stored different places

Stored together

Stored off-site

No storage/system

Poor condition/in needof attention

What is the current storage situation and condition of your historical materials?

Results

Infrequently

Seldom

Very seldom

Frequently

Regularly

How often does your organization use your historical materials, e.g. in programs, at ceremonies or celebrations?

Results

No

Yes

Somewhat

Have you already digitized (scanned) any materials?

Results

Yes

Maybe

Would your organization welcome the opportunity to work with and get assistance from area colleges or universities, or other public institutions, to assist you in addressing these needs or issues?

Results

Maybe

No

Yes

Do you have youth in your organization whomight be interested in learning how to preserve your organization's history in a digital format?

Results

Yes

Maybe/Somewhat

No

Do you see value in making your history, or selections of it, available to a wider community audience?

Results

Photos

Correspondence

Pamphlets

Other types

Deeds/Marriage certificates

Artifacts

Architectural plans

If so, what types of material would you choose to share?

Results

What plans, if any, have you made for making this material more accessible to your own group, organization, or constituency?

• Initial stages of planning• Housed in one room/not catalogued.• Not easily open for review for lack of interest.• None, but working on a church history that reference items.• Organized, catalogued, are stored in archival containers.• Currently trying to inventory the boxes, just to know what we have. • Recently held our 85th birthday party and displayed all the materials

we have onsite. • Greensboro College placed some of our materials on CD’s &

recorded some oral histories of members

Lessons Learned

• Email survey solicitations should have been followed up, within a week, by phone calls

• Five charity drawings ($250 total) were not that effective in increasing participation, but worthy grant expense

• There is a definite interest (at least by the responding groups) for assistance in preserving their historical materials, both physically and digitally

• Large majority of participants see the value in sharing their history

Going Forward

• Digitizing additional material of groups/organizations, e.g.West Market Street Methodist Church Kirkwood Neighborhood First Presbyterian Church Providence Baptist ChurchNeese’s Country Sausage

•

• A “how to/best practices” in-the-field camera capture guide

• Potential IMLS Sparks! Ignition Grant, Young Achievers DGHi (Digitizing Greensboro History) Explorers Program in partnership with Hayes-Taylor YMCA

• Hands-on workshops on “self service” camera digitization, including simple descriptive metadata instructions

• Community Collections:http://libcdm1.uncg.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/Community

• Digital Projects Blog:http://uncgdigital.blogspot.com/

• Contact:

• David: jdgwynn@uncg.edu

Questions?