National Library of Australia


Sir Joseph Banks Electronic Archive Project

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.

Project managers wishing to update the details of their Australian digitisation projects, should send the changes to ALG Administration.

Last modified: October 20 2009.