Washington State Library Digital Images Initiative
Pilot Test Grants Final Narrative Report

Date: October 18, 2000 Grant #: G-2067

Grant Period Start Date: Feb. 2000 through September, 2000

Reporting Period Start Date: Feb. 2000 through September 2000

Title of Grant: Digital Images Initiative Pilot Test Grant

Library: Ellensburg Public Library

Project Manager: Celeste Kline
Contact email: klinec@epl.eburg.com
Contact telephone: 509/962.7252

Project Assumptions: It is feasible for a small library to develop access to local history materials, in this case by digitizing images and descriptive text of an exhibit in the collection, and by making use of web hosting services, Content software, and training and consulting services from two academic libraries. The project was feasible in terms of materials, staff time, and cost because of the support provided by the academic libraries. A small but good quality database has resulted that is providing unique historical information about this area on the Web.

Project Description:

• How many hours were spent preparing collections for scanning?
  Very little, as we decided to use an exhibit that included both the photos and text.
• How many hours were spent scanning the collection materials?
  1.5 hours (42 photos) However, quality control on them took another 35.5 hours using Adobe Photoshop.
• How many hours were spent indexing the scanned objects?
  43.25 hours
• How many hours were spent training staff to do scanning and to do indexing using the metadata schema in CONTENTdm?
  15.5 (three persons)
• Was the project budget adequate to do all tasks? If not, where did you experience a shortfall?
  Yes, it was more than adequate; we came in under budget.
• What was your greatest challenge in project management?
  Making the best use of consulting from WSU on use of CONTENTdm software; they were very responsive, but it was sometimes difficult learning how to do it via email correspondence. It would have been helpful to have some on-site consulting.
• What was your greatest challenge in handling and managing the collections?
  Understanding the proper use of the fields in the metadata and selecting terms to describe the photos.
• What was your greatest challenge in training staff or volunteers?
  Learning to use the text capabilities of CONTENTdm software; we still have not been able to incorporate our text into CONTENTdm, but instead opted to create our own web page for this part of the project.
• What was your greatest challenge in indexing content or creating the metadata?
  Selecting useful terms for the photos that would achieve our goal of creating good access points for researchers.
• What was your greatest challenge in scanning the objects?
  Once we had the scanner, scanning was no problem, as we had the skills on staff for this and it went very quickly.
• Did you experience any problems purchasing or installing software or equipment?
  No.
• Are your scanned objects available on the world wide web? If so what is the URL?
  Yes. http://content.wsulibs.wsu.edu/cgi-bin/go.exe?CISOROOT=/eplone;
  And http://epl.eburg.com/roslyn.html
• Are you planning another digital images project in the next two years? If so will you continue to use the CONTENTdm software?
  Yes. We have been approved through the application submitted by the Port Townsend Library to add to our current database, and we will be using CONTENTdm.
• In your next digital images project what would you do differently?
  I would like to integrate the text part of the database into the CONTENTdm software.
  We will need more training/assistance to learn to do this correctly.
• Are you willing to participate on a panel to discuss digital projects at the Washington Library Association conference in Spokane, April, 2001? If yes, please list a contact name and email for the person who will be involved?
  Yes. Celeste Kline klinec@epl.eburg.com