National Library of Australia


Digitisation projects

Project participants: National Museum of Australia
Contact officer/s: Judith Cannon, Project Officer (email j.cannon@nma.gov.au or phone 02 6208 5282)
Project description: The aims of the digitisation project are: 1) to eventually provide access to key objects and collections held by the National Museum of Australia; 2) to provide raw materials for onsite multimedia exhibits; 3) to provide raw materials for Web pages and other multimedia products, as well as for PR purposes; and 4) to fulfil certain preservation needs in cases where digital methods offer the best option.
URL of site:
URL for project information: An early scoping paper (August 1998) can be downloaded in PDF from http://www.nma.gov.au/aboutus/products/bigpic.pdf
Content: The content is varied and includes surrogates of the Basedow photographic collection, images of Australian biological specimens, of colonial prints, of Indigenous art (especially bark paintings), of historical postcards, outback children's drawings, prized rare books and manuscripts, a collection of sketches, and other assorted objects. The collection is evergrowing and one aim is to ensure that objects destined for display at the new Museum will be photographed and digitised beforehand. Special VR methods have been used for selected objects best shown in animated form. Includes photographs, handwritten material, typewritten text, 3-D objects and paintings.
Digitisation policy and priorities: The Museum does not have a digitisation policy. However, it is a priority to develop at least guidelines (policy information from other organisations will be much valued).
Timetable: Project underway - anticipated completion by 30 June 2001.
Budget and funding: $200,000 all inhouse funding.
Staff resources: There is a Digitisation Projects Officer but the actual scanning and any digital photography is done by external providers. Staff select material for digitisation, prepare batch lists, do quality control, load images into the image database and enter documentation into the database, manage the budget.
Technical standards: Technical details available from Project Officer, Judith Cannon 02 6208 5282 (email j.cannon@nma.gov.au).
Cataloguing and indexing: To be determined but Dublin Core standards sought. A printout of the fields used can be obtained from Judith Cannon.
Comments: Two documents relating to our selection of digitisation service providers in 1999 are available. The evaluation was conducted as a two stage process. The selection criteria for the final evaluation of service providers and an evaluation of the digital photography process during the trial can be obtained from Judith Cannon (j.cannon@nma.gov.au).

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

Last modified: October 20 2009.