Digitisation
From Digipedia
OVERVIEW
A digitisation project can cover a wide range of complex activities and it is often easy to lose track of the underlying project aims and objectives. Digitisation is a tool and not a purpose and should always be used to facilitate the end result of the project rather than becoming the sole focus of it. Careful planning of the processes of digitising materials at the start of the work and conducting a pilot study to identify anything that needs changing will mean that routines should run smoothly.
The areas that will need to be addressed include:
- an audit of the content to be digitised to identify physical state, size, material types and any special treatment needed before digitisation can happen
- an estimate of the costs of the work
- deciding whether to do the work in house or to contract out
- identifying the equipment needed and staff to operate it
- digital master creation and preservation
Detailed advice and guidance is available from good practice guides such as theUKOLN Good Practice Guide and from digitisation bureaux such as HEDS-digital and KCDS.
Related Digipedia articles
Good practice guides
Standards and formats
Business planning
Further information
HEDS Digital
King's College, University of London Digital Consultancy Services
MINERVA cost reduction in digitisation, 2006