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Worldwide (English) Change
Research : Activities : Streamlining Photography and Scanning

Streamlining Photography and Scanning

This working group is addressing workflow and policy issues arising from digitizing (and copying) materials from special collections. Specific focus is on scan-on-demand workflow in reading rooms, integration of patron-initiated scans with large-scale digitization and digital library workflow, recommendations for minimum levels of scanning and metadata, and policies for hand-held cameras in reading rooms.

Background

Users of archives and special collections often want copies of original materials after discovering relevant content. Preparation of digital scans, photocopies and photographs can, however, consume a great deal of staff time. Policies and practices vary widely across institutions; these local practices can be both frustrating and confusing for users to understand. In recent years a particular flash point has been the unwillingness of some institutions to allow users to use digital cameras in the reading room in order both to facilitate immediate acquisition of reproductions and to reduce the costs associated with conducting research. In some cases, libraries and archives continue to charge for copies in order to offset lost revenue from duplication services.

Impact

Revisiting policies and methods for scanning and other reproductive services can encourage improvements, both in efficient use of staff time and in more effective use of special collections. The images themselves, whether made by staff or by patrons, can populate a digital library and be reused, further improving delivery of collections for use.
This project was created by members of the RLG Partnership. The group will survey policies, practices and experiences providing surrogates of original research materials. Outcomes will include recommendations for best practices for scan-on-demand services, exemplary policies for patron use of digital cameras, and strategies to streamline workflow of images and metadata into digital libraries.

More Information

Team Members

  • Jennifer Schaffner (lead)
  • Eleanor Brown (Cornell)
  • Paul Constantine (University of Washington)
  • Gordon Daines (Brigham Young University)
  • Tiah Edmunson-Morton (Oregon State University)
  • David Farneth (Getty)
  • Cristina Favretto (University of Miami)
  • Steven Galbraith (Folger)
  • Susan Hamson (Columbia)
  • Sue Kunda (Oregon State University)
  • Jennie A. Levine (University of Maryland)
  • Dennis Massie (OCLC Research)
  • Dennis Meissner (Minnesota Historical Society)
  • Liz McAllister (University of Maryland)
  • Lisa Miller (Hoover Institution Library and Archives, Stanford)
  • Timothy Pyatt (Duke)
  • Jennifer Schaffner (OCLC Research)
  • Shannon Supple (Robbins Collections, UC Berkeley)
  • Francine Snyder (Guggenheim)
  • Mattie Taormina (Stanford)
  • Cherry Williams (Lilly Library, Indiana University)



Last update: 11 August 2009.

Project lead: Jennifer Schaffner