| Project participants: |
State Library of New South
Wales |
| Contact officer/s: |
Alan Ventress, Mitchell Librarian (email
aventres@ilanet.slnsw.gov.au
or phone 02 9273 1466) |
| Project
description: An indexed digital copy of the complete archive of Sir
Joseph Banks' manuscript papers relating to Australia, including his famous
Endeavour journal, held in the Mitchell and Dixson collections of the State
Library of New South Wales. Aim to provide improved public access to the
collection and explore the resources required to undertake major digitisation
projects. |
| URL of site: |
http://www.slnsw.gov.au/Banks/ |
| URL for project
information: |
http://www.slnsw.gov.au/Banks/intro/backgr.htm
|
| Content: |
Paintings and other materials. Approx.
9,300 pages of more than 9km of manuscript material! |
| Digitisation policy and
priorities: |
Strategies for the management of digital
files will be included in the State Library's Digital Library Plan. |
| Timetable: |
Completed project: 1 October 1993-1
October 1997 |
| Budget and funding: |
Internal and private funding - total
budget A150,000 - $A250,000 |
| Staff resources: |
Digitisation processes outsourced to
private company. The need for a commitment to staff training in this area has
been recognised in the Digital Library Plan. Training requirements for each
project will be outlined in each digital project plan. |
| Technical standards: |
1000 dpi G4 TIF files used to create bit
greyscale JPEG images. Software: Adobe Photoshop, Harvest Index. Capturing
equipment: Nanomach Screenscan Digitiser. |
| Cataloguing and
indexing: |
The papers were arranged and indexed
according to archival principles. Each index record is linked to the image of
the page it describes. A full transcription of the Endeavour Journal has also
been provided. |
| Comments: |
Images were originally scanned (from
preservation microfilm) as 8 bit black and white files. These were found to be
unsuitable for manuscript material, and 256 bit greyscale was adopted as an
alternative. The original intention was to produce the archive on CD ROM,
however developments in the web allowed us to publish much more quickly and
easily than on a CD ROM. The "downside" is that we cannot recoup invested funds
by publishing this way, and making it available via the Library's Web site.
Length of time these projects take is not likely to be
overestimated! Delivery mechanism and the nature of the project changes as
technology changes (eg. from CD-ROM to Web publication). High level of quality
control required. Small team worked well (3 people, with one dedicated to the
project full time). Patience and flexibility are essential requirements for
those undertaking these sorts of projects. |
Last modified: October 20 2009.