What is archival digitization?

What is archival digitization?

Digitization in an archival environment includes taking a physical object or analog item, such as an art object, a tape recording, a map, or correspondence, from a collection that is rare or unique, often extremely fragile, and taking photographs of the item, and transferring the photographs to a digital medium.

What is a digitization project?

Digitization project: A project that includes migrating objects from an analog format to a digital format. Most often used to refer to scanning projects.

Why do we need to digitize archive material?

This digitization will also serve as a key preservation action for providing access to fragile and/or high demand records, obsolete formats and deteriorated records. In these cases, digitization ensures that the records will be available in the future.

How do I digitize old documents?

How to Digitize Your Most Important Documents

1. Step 1: Get Organized. Gather all the documents you want to digitize.
2. Step 2: Use a Scanner (if You Have One)
3. Step 3: Scan With a Mobile App.
4. Step 4: Scan Old Photos With Your Phone.
5. Step 5: Protect and Safely Store Your Files.

Why do we need digitization?

Digitization is the process of converting information into a digital (i.e. computer-readable) format. Digitization is of crucial importance to data processing, storage and transmission, because it “allows information of all kinds in all formats to be carried with the same efficiency and also intermingled”.

Why do we digitize collections?

Digitizing your collection is not only a great way to increase access to your materials, it also engages patrons on a whole new level and helps communicate your library’s value.

How do you plan a digitization project?

9 steps to a successful digitization project

1. Planning. Mapping a successful project in the context of your overall digital transformation and business goals.
2. Resourcing.
3. Pilot program and testing.
4. Document preparation.
5. Scanning and data capture.
6. QA.
7. Digital document upload.
8. Re-filling, archival storage, disposition.

Should I digitize documents?

Why Digitize Documents? Documents and business records that have been digitized reduce storage costs, save time in retrieval, can be shared globally, and can be more efficiently tracked for compliance. Scanning and imaging documents in the organization provide a scalable solution for record information management.

Is digitizing good or bad?

Digitization is neither good nor bad. It is. The degree to which it will have a positive or negative impact on society and the world are entirely up to the creators of new technology and the consumers of that capability.

What is the National Archives and Records Administration strategy for digitization?

This Strategy for Digitizing Archival Materials for Public Access, 2015-2024 derives from the NARA Strategic Plan ( U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Fiscal Year 2014-2018 Strategic Plan) and our goal is to expand public access to our important historical holdings through digitization.

What is the strategy for digitizing archival materials?

The strategy thus puts forth a comprehensive, system-wide approach to NARA’s digitizing activities. NARA has identified the following objectives for digitizing our holdings for public access: Provide online access to an ever increasing number of NARA’s holdings.

How are Archives digitized to make them available to the public?

To date, digitization partnerships have delivered the vast majority of online content available through the catalog. NARA has shown that partnerships with private, public, non-profit, educational, and Government institutions to digitize and make available holdings can be a powerful model.

What are the standards for digitizing the Smithsonian Archives?

Digitization Standards. The outcome are high resolution images, audio, and video in preservation quality digital file formats. The Archives’ metadata standards ensure descriptive and technical characteristics are noted in its collection management system and embedded in the surrogate files as appropriate.