Sharing Our Local Treasures with the World: the business of managing digitization projects

A talk table with Patricia Van Skaik, Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County; Jodee Fenton, Seattle Public Library; Jim Kroll, Denver Public Library. Each presenter talked about their unique experience with digitization projects.

From Patricia,
Panoramic view of city (daguerrotype) preservation project. Led to focus on related topics such as immigration, and layers of information; creation of recommended reading lists, all from one photo being enlarged with a microscope showing fine details and revealing information about history. Main point is to make accessible and preservation.

From Jodee Fenton,
Why do you want to digitize?
It increases the lifespan of the original photo, makes it visible, increases access, keeps us (the library) relevant, inventory (know what you have, know what others have), who are your users (unintended users), where does the money come from (convince others that you have a valuable community resource), keep Administration and Boards in the loop, know your local treasures, be familiar with and keep up with changing standards and best practices, start with a small project.

Strategic partnerships
shared missions; find shared ground for collaboration
-scope of partnership
-value added; give something to partnership; push/pull
General workshops for the public
Keep abreast of emerging technologies
Customer expections, "Isn't it all online somewhere?"
Know your resources and others
Be on your toes
Local and global presence
Know how to search and use what you have
Customer service
Different reference interview skills

From Jim,
Project came about due to a local professor wanted his students to be able to search, find, and then include digital photos in their history papers. Once you digitize, you own the copyright. Library local history department had to think like a business, for-profit in providing digitized photos to vendors; high cost of equipment. Photos included in Library of Congress American Memory project.

Each presenter had a unique project, or perspective. Interesting idea, once you digitize a photo, you own the copyright, and can then sell the image for profit. I also liked the idea of focusing on various related topics; that there may be layers of information, and creating related/recommended reading lists to further market library collection.