New Home for the Digitisation and Photography Branch
The new photographic studio, with
non-reflective floor, specialist lighting and camera workstations
Photo: Linda McInnes
Digitisation Officer Sandra Martens
preparing to scan sheet music
Photo: Linda McInnes
Preparing to photograph collection
material
Photo: Linda McInnes
The scanning room, featuring
specialist lighting, scanners, fume hood (at back) and fridge for negative acclimatisation
Photo: Linda McInnes
The National Library’s digitisation program entered a new era in mid June with the completion of long-awaited refurbishments. The Digitisation and Imaging Services staff were then able to move their furniture, equipment, scanning room and photographic studio to the substantially improved new work area. To complete the makeover, the Digitisation and Imaging Services sections amalgamated into one team which—together with the Australian Newspapers Digitisation Program—constitutes the Digitisation and Photography Branch (renamed from Digital Collections Management Branch to reflect more accurately the core business of the branch).
Staff members are very excited about working as part of a larger team in the new accommodation. Previously the three sections delivered the Library’s digitisation program while working in different locations throughout the Library. Now we are all located in a compact but comfortable area encompassing reception desk, photographic studio, scanning room, quality control workstations, collection storage room and offices.
The digital capture equipment used includes five flat bed scanners (Creo iQsmart range), a Hasselblad Flextight film drum scanner, and a range of digital cameras (Canon, Sinar and Betterlight). The scanning room is equipped with a recirculating fume hood for fume mitigation when scanning acetate negatives, and with a fridge for acclimatisation of film-based collection material retrieved from the cold store.
A lot of effort went into achieving suitable viewing conditions for photographic work. Appropriate shades of grey were used for furniture, carpets and wall paint. The photographic studio floor-covering is a non-reflective charcoal coloured vinyl. Specialist lighting comprises light fittings with quad phosphor fluorescent tubes with diffusers, and a lightning track system with Solux bulbs with dimmers.
The new organisational structure and the beautifully fitted-out accommodation have created exciting opportunities for streamlining our operations and achieving efficiencies. Currently the team is working on analysing and improving workflows using the Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN).
The installation of this facility is very timely, as the Library is about to embark on the building of a permanent Treasures Gallery. This project will also involve the creation of an online virtual Treasures Gallery, which will necessitate the digitisation a large number of the Library’s treasures that will be exhibited.
With the long period of planning and preparations having come to fruition, our team of highly skilled and enthusiastic staff is ready for the challenges ahead.
Barbara Rozmus
Director (Acting), Digitisation and Photography Branch



