We thank Hana Beckerle for this post.
Ever wonder how the Library digitizes primary sources from the millions of items in its collections? It takes many hands to bring materials from the Library’s shelves to the screens of classrooms around the world. To celebrate World Digital Preservation Day, we’ll take a look behind the scenes in digitization.
Primary sources are selected for digitization based on their interest to teachers and learners, rarity, relevance to upcoming notable dates, or by special request.
Items are also digitized so that the images can be used in Library exhibitions and publications.
Items that are particularly fragile may be digitized to minimize future physical handling of the objects. Digitization can also reveal lost content, as well as qualities of the objects that can’t be discerned through physical observation.
After items are selected for digitization, they are assessed by conservators. The Library of Congress has expert conservators for a wide range of material types (paper, wood, metal, film, tape, and much more) who evaluate the condition and stability of items before they go through the digitization process.
Copyright experts determine whether digitized content can be made openly available online.
Librarians prepare catalog records and other metadata to ensure that the digital files are discoverable with the correct bibliographic information online. The next step is digitization.
The Library uses a variety of technologies to capture image, audio, video, motion picture film, and even Braille content from physical collection items to create digital files. The Library’s digitization professionals have specialized training in collections handling, capture technology, and technical standards for digital files.
In addition to cameras and other technology for high-quality content capture, digitization professionals use an assortment of tools and props to stage and stabilize items during digitization.
After the content is captured, the digital files undergo a quality review before the files are ingested into the Library’s digital content storage repositories. Similar to physical collections on shelves, custody and access to digital content is controlled through policy and permissions within repositories and other systems.
Finally, web team members make the digital content available on the Library’s Digital Collections pages. Here they’re available for teachers, librarians, researchers, students, and other users around the world to access.
Library staff members use digital collection materials in blogs, primary source sets, research guides, and other online resources. Primary source materials are also used in the By the People crowdsourced transcription program.
It’s a privilege to be part of the team that makes the Library’s vast and amazing collections available for use in classrooms across the country!
For more information, check out the following:
- Digital Preservation at the Library of Congress
- National Audio/Visual Conservation Center
- The Signal Blog – Digital Happenings at the Library of Congress
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