Digital reformatting for preservation

Digital Reformating for Preservation

I don’t think that word means what you think it means

Keri Thompson :: Web Services Department :: Smithsonian Institution Libraries www.sil.si.edu :: [email protected] :: @DigiKeri_SIL

March 22, 2011

Digital reformatting – sure

Digital preservation – ok, this is a little tricky

Digital reformatting for preservation …or is it Digital reformatting and preservation?

Digital Reformatingfor Preservation


Digital Reformating

aka Digitization Been doing it for over 20 years Equipment keeps getting better Variety of output formats Works great for access


Image: SIL staff digitizing book

Digital Reformating

Imaging basics Pixels – 1s and 0s Resolution ppi/dpi True ppi (dpi) Scanning books▪ Color vs. grayscale vs. b&w

File formats & compression


Digital Reformating

Imaging for Books Metadata, metadata, metadata▪ Regular library stuff, like MARC, DC or MODS▪ Structural metadata▪ Rights metadata

OCR Additional file formats System for storage, display


Digital Reformating

Imaging for Books Equipment choices▪ Camera on a stand▪ Flatbed scanners▪ Dual-camera models▪ Robots vs. humans!

Page curvature Depth of field issues OCR


After 20+ years, we’re still working on it

Storage need growing exponentially Expertise and infrastructure getting

better Continuous process, not one time

action

“The series of managed activities necessary to ensure continued access

to digital materials for as long as necessary.”

Digital Preservation



Use of “preservation” is a little misleading to those in library-land

not about conservation or restoration not about backup procedures or media on

which data is stored no concept of “keeping it for 500 years”

or any notion of permanence will often hear people use Digital Curation

interchangeably Keri Thompson :: Web Services Department :: Smithsonian Institution

Libraries www.sil.si.edu :: [email protected] :: @DigiKeri_SILImage: t.p. from Wm Morris ed. Of Canterbury Tales

Difficulties (short version) Media on which digital objects are

stored have uncertain lifespan. Digital objects are easy to change,

either maliciously or accidentally! Digital objects can be very complex,

website w/ media, or simple but dependant on hardware/software WordStar document.




Issues are as much organizational as technological. Making sure that the files that make up

your digital object are understandable when you need them.

Making sure you can find the digital object you need

Ensuring that the digital object is what it says it is


Image: t.p. from Wm Morris ed. Of Canterbury Tales

Digital Reformatting for Preservation

Digital reformatting for preservation of the analog object

vs.Digital reformatting and preservation

of the digital object

(guess which is easier?)




Digital Capture Best Practices Resolution – true ppi, 400ppi Color fidelity (color space, bit depth) Camera, monitor, and target calibration

FADGI http://www.digitizationguidelines.gov/

File formats – RAW, tiff, jpg2000 METS and PREMIS for description, or

create “self describing” information packets


Image: color target for camera calibration

http://www.digitizationguidelines.gov/


Preservation Best Practices Establish & support processes & policies Multiple copies (LOCKSS) Auditing - data integrity & security

(checksums) Hardware/software and wetware that

support OAIS model▪ Tiered architecture: Online-Nearline-Offline,

replicate-able and expandable Files are findable & Accessable - DOIs


Image: Smithsonian Libraries Research Annex


No one can go it alone Cooperatives and Services

Datavers, MetaArchive Internet Archive, DuraSpace/DuraCloud


Image: Smithsonian Libraries Research Annex

Digital Reformatting for the Preservation Department

Be involved in the process! training scanners for book handling, reviewing condition making sure

conservation/repair/rehousing is part of the workflow (minimum at least indicate what items need treatment)

lighting (strobes vs. hot lights) things with platens, flatbeds, etc.



Digital Reformatting and Preservation Resources

Digital Imaging Primer from Cornellhttp://www.library.cornell.edu/preservation/tutorial/contents.html FADGI Federal Agencies Digitization Guideline Initiativewww.digitizationguidelines.gov/ NDIIP National Digital Information Infrastructure & Preservation Program (LC)http://www.digitalpreservation.gov/ Digital Preservation Primer by Michael Day, UKOLN via JISC (UK)http://www.slideshare.net/michaelday/digital-preservation-an-introduction APA Alliance for Permanent Access (EU)http://www.alliancepermanentaccess.org/ Digital Preservation Coalition (UK)http://www.dpconline.org/

http://www.library.cornell.edu/preservation/tutorial/contents.html

http://www.digitizationguidelines.gov/

http://www.digitalpreservation.gov/

http://www.slideshare.net/michaelday/digital-preservation-an-introduction

http://www.slideshare.net/michaelday/digital-preservation-an-introduction

http://www.alliancepermanentaccess.org/

http://www.dpconline.org/


Thank You!

Keri Thompson Smithsonian Institution Libraries

www.sil.si.edu [email protected] :: @DigiKeri_SIL

Digital reformatting for preservation

Technology

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