NEWSPAPERS AND MAPS
Issues
of Importance
The technology to create useable digital copies of newspapers is only
beginning to be understood. There have not been many research projects
conducted nationally to formulate best practices for the digitization
of newspaper resources and only a few research projects that address the
problems associated with digitizing large format materials such as maps.
Further investigation and case studies of these materials is needed to
establish best practices and standards which will inform the library community.
Further information can be found by reviewing the following projects:
Conway, Paul. Yale University Library. "Working with Microfilm." pp 127-135, Handbook For Digital Projects: A Management Tool for Preservation and Access. Andover: Northeast Documentation Conservation Center, 2000. (PDF version pp. 136-148)
Gertz, Janet. Columbia University Libraries. "Digitization of Maps and Other Oversize Documents," pp 123-126, Handbook For Digital Projects: A Management Tool for Preservation and Access. Andover: Northeast Documentation Conservation Center, 2000. (PDF version pp. 133-136)
Kenney, Anne R. "Digital to Microfilm Conversion: A Demonstration Project, 1994-1996, Final Report to the National Endowment for the Humanities, PS-20781-94," Also see other publications about the methodology used by the Cornell University Department of Preservation and Conservation. http://http://www.library.cornell.edu/preservation/com/comfin.html
Activity in Washington
State:
As part of the pilot test projects conducted for the Statewide
Digital Images Initiative Port Townsend Library has undertaken a project
to test methods to digitize the microfilm copy of one year of the Morning
Leader newspaper from 1901. This project will continue in 2001. (Port
Townsend report)
The University of Washington has developed a technique to digitize newspaper clippings that relate to the Everett Massacre labor history. Their experience is useful to review. (University of Washington report)
Options to consider:
Because of the greater possibility of encountering technical problems
when scanning newspapers or maps these materials should be considered
as candidates for outsource scanning. Vendors specializing in scanning
using high quality equipment will also have the experience to efficiently
solve any problems encountered. The equipment and experience needed to
create digital copies of color maps will be found only from a few vendors
nationwide. Among the technical issues to be resolved are the need for
hight resolution, file storage size, color values and compression sizes.
Newspapers and maps are especially appropriate for vendor scanning. (see
vendor paper)
Scanning from microfilm has proven to be a cost effective way to capture newspapers in digital formats. However, indexing and display of digitized microfilm proves difficult due to the problems of creating indexing for separate articles contained on each newspaper page. Further, the digitized newspaper pages require large file sizes to display on a web site. When choosing to create digital copies of newspaper pages or maps a display option using CDrom technology should be examined. Usually newspaper and map images can be delivered more effectively through CDroms than over a live network.
Problems can occur when trying to scan newspaper clippings due to uneven print, or damaged originals. Conducting test scans to determine image quality problems is recommended.
Project
checklist:
Consult the linked materials and resource papers noted before attempting
to plan a project to digitize newspapers or maps.
