Applying MPLP to Digitization (Elings, 2010)

Mary W. ElingsArchivist for Digital Collections

The Bancroft Library

Applying MPLP to Digitization


The Bancroft LibraryUniversity of California

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Shifting Strategies and Results



More Product, Less Process

Mark A. Greene/Dennis Meissner “More Product, Less Process: Pragmatically Revamping Approaches to Deal with Late 20th Century Collections” (2004)

http://ahc.uwyo.edu/documents/faculty/greene/papers/Greene-Meissner.pdf



Forum: Digitization Matters

Ricky Erway and Jennifer SchaffnerShifting Gears: Gearing Up to Get Into the Flow (2007)

www.oclc.org/programs/publications/reports/2007-02.pdf



Traditional Practice

• Principles– preservation and access (dual goals)

– Do it once and do it right “to perfection”– Item level description most desirable– Highest quality always warranted

– Accomplish more, and more, and more...



Forces at Work

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/02/05/070205fa_fact_toobin#ixzz0ls3xqhK2

• Lack of funding

• Mass digitization

• User expectations

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/02/05/070205fa_fact_toobin




• Principles for Change– Maximize user access (preeminent goal)– Golden minimum “good enough” is realistic– Arrange and describe at a common, aggregate level– Reserve exceptional effort only when warranted– Accomplish more by trying to do less




• Principles for Change– Maximize user access (preeminent goal)– Golden minimum “good enough” digitization is realistic– Arrange, describe and digitize at a common, aggregate

level– Reserve exceptional digitization effort only when

warranted– Accomplish more digitization by trying to do less

(my co-opted version!)



Microfilm Pilot (2003)

• George and Phoebe Apperson Hearst Papers (selections)

• Newly created microfilm

• Targets present (aggregate grouping)

• 4000 frames scanned @ $0.50/frame

• Folder level digital objects– Extant metadata from finding aid



Microfilm Production (2008)

• Archives of California (complete)

• Microfilm created in 1960s

• No targets present (no aggregate grouping)

• 25,000 frames scanned @ $0.10/frame

• 64 reel level digital objects (as pdf)– Extant metadata from MARC record



Muir Letters (2008-2009)

• Correspondence of John Muir (complete)

• Microfilm created in 1980s

• Md cards present (extant md, aggregate grping)

• 12,500 frames (6500 letters) @ $0.26/frame

• Images, metadata and hand-transcription

• Letter level digital objects– CDM compound objects– METS complex objects



Negative Scanning Projects

• San Francisco News-Call Bulletin Newspaper Photograph Archive (2004)

• ca. 500,000 negatives

• 500 negatives in 93 sleeves selected

• Sleeve-level digital objects– Multiple negatives per sleeve– Extant Sleeve level description– No additional description provided



Examiner Pilot (2007-2009)

• San Francisco Examiner Photograph Archive (selections)

• ca. 3,600,000 negatives total

• Pilot: 10,000 nitrate negatives• Sleeve-level digital objects• Two digitization workflows

– in house and vendor

• Goal: assessment of workflows, appraisal, and access

Applying MPLP to Digitization (Elings, 2010)

Education

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