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| Project participants: | University of Sydney Library (including SETIS Scholarly Electronic Text Information Service), State Library of New South Wales, National Library of Australia, Monash University Library (initially, on the provision of full searchable text for the four novels). Others who have assisted during the project include Cornell University Library, Yale University Library and we have benefited from technical documentation provided by the Library of Congress. |
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| Contact officer/s: | Ross Coleman, University of Sydney Libraries (email collm@mail.usyd.edu.au); Alan Ventress, State Library of NSW (email aventres@ilanet.slnsw.gov.au); Colin Webb, National Library of Australia (email cwebb@nla.gov.au or phone 02 6262 1662) |
| Project description: A collaborative project which microfilmed and digitised approximately seventy serial titles and four novels published between 1840-1845. The project also included direct scanning of one serial title. A small amount of OCR work is to be attempted as an extension to the project. Intention is produce a Web site and CD-ROM, enhance collection management, provide improved public access to the collection enhance preservation techniques and explore the resources required to undertake major digitisation project. Files will be mounted on the National Library of Australia's server and ongoing management and maintenance will become their responsibility. | |
| URL of site: | http://www.nla.gov.au/ferg/ |
| URL for project information: | http://www.nla.gov.au/acdp/ |
| Content: | Approximately seventy serial titles and four novels published between 1840-1845. |
| Digitisation policy and priorities: | None of the partners have established a digitisation or online policy. |
| Timetable: | Continuing: January 1996 - 1999 |
| Budget and funding: | Funded by grant from Australian Research Council (ARC) and by partners. Original budget $A461,960 (actual in-kind contribution of partners, which considerably exceeded budget estimates, to be advised). Total budget $A250,000 - $A500,000. |
| Staff resources: | Approximately five staff involved from the State Library of NSW, National Library and University of Sydney and one from Monash University. Digitisation out-sourced to W&F Pascoe (Tony Wheeler, Manager - phone 02 9949 1133 or fax 02 9949 4389) for filming and scanning, and Discovery Media (Manager Martin Shub - email martin@discoverymedia.com.au) for processing, image enhancement, QC and directory structures. The final system will be documented through the design and delivery of one or more competency based training packages, including the provision of print and online options. Training in the use of the system will be provided to the participating partners through accredited trainers. |
| Technical standards: | Bitonal scanning done at 400dpi TIF v.6; compressed using ITU Group 4. Greyscale: scanned at 100-200dpi; 8 bits per pixel; JPEG compression. Some images were deskewed, despeckled and cropped. The contractors have used a range of software for the processes, and have been adopting software new developments in image processing. |
| Cataloguing and indexing: | ABN/Libraries Australia catalogue records will be linked to the digital files. Each image file header contains the title of the work, the ISSN, the date, the volume, issue, and page number. Technical data relevant to the files and imaging are included in file headers. Information regarding copyright also included in the file headers. |
| Comments: | Problems were had with complex document control
structure - difficulties obtaining 100% accuracy - process took much more time.
Quality of first delivery of CDs (high BER) was unacceptable - CDs were
reburnt. Editing software used on first batch of images only saved files as TIF
Group 3 - all had to be converted to Group 4. Limited capability of scanner to
effectively automate cropping during capture of microfilm frames - more
extensive post scanning enhancement required than anticipated, and more than is
possible in "production mode". The consequences of changes in method of
producing test files and changes to produce first batch in production mode not
appreciated fully by project members, and not communicated by vendor. Several
problems revealed during QC on the first batch including problems with
polarity, resolution and compression. Other issues involved deskewing and
cropping of images. Requirements and expectations were reassessed, discussed
and clarified after delivery of first batch and options reviewed, and problems
resolved.
All of the material digitised is out of copyright. Major issues included determining the copyright on the digital files produced in a collaborative project. Digital objects require more time, resources, quality control and management than anticipated. The amount of time required to collate and prepare original material exceeded expectations (ie the creation of a virtual collection from a dispersed collection) Specifications for projects of this type need to be tested before the project begins in operational mode (or if the production method changes during the project) and refined as required during the project. The specification needs to document the way in which the original files were produced or how the finished product was arrived at. Outputs need to be clearly defined in the specifications and agreed upon by vendor and those commissioning the work. Within a large scale conversion project, small batches of material are better than large batches in establishing processes, quality control procedures and outputs. Well defined communication strategies are essential. As part of providing feedback on this project we are planning to hold a forum late in 1998, with panels to discuss technical details, operational, organisational and content issues. |
Project managers wishing to update the details of their Australian digitisation projects, should email the changes to alg@nla.gov.au.
Last modified: February 15 2006.
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