Washington State Library Digital Images Initiative - Pilot Test Grants - Final narrative report

Final Narrative Report Cover Sheet
Date: October 18, 2000 Grant #: G-2066
Grant Period
Start Date: April 26, 2000 through August 31, 2000
Reporting Period
Start Date: April 26, 2000 through August 31, 2000

Library Name: Washington State University Libraries
Project grant number: G-2066

Address: Post Office Box 645610
Pullman, WA 99164-5610

Library Director: Mary Doyle
Project Manager: Laila Miletic-Vejzovic
Contact email: vejzovic@wsu.edu; tjbond@wsu.edu; cornish@wsu.edu
Contact telephone: (509) 335-2739; (509) 335-6693; (509) 335-1895

Project Assumptions:
This project will test the digitization of photographic prints (600 to 700) made by Frank S. Matsura from a collection of his photographs located in Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections.

The project will result in new, statewide access to Matsura's work through the Web.

The test will also help determine the cost and logistics of converting images and the training necessary.

We confirmed all of the assumptions provided above. After scanning and describing 1241 images, MASC has provided internet access to this collection and, more importantly, we have a firm idea of the time and costs involved in managing similar digitizing projects. (Trevor Bond)

Project Description:
For the pilot project, we created two databases: one with 1167 images and another a "compound document" with 74 images: a total of 1241 images. We also designed a user interface for both databases that combines contextual material (information about the photographer, collection, how to search the database, and the project) and multiple search options (a general search box across all fields and a series of predefined searches). The compound document database contains 74 scrapbook pages and allows the user to browse through the document page by page. (Trevor Bond)

a. How many hours were spent preparing collections for scanning?

Less than one hour; the collection was fully processed with a complete finding aid and MARC record. After scanning each image, we decided to slip each original photograph into a mylar sleeve to insure preservation, in part as a response to anticipated increased future use after the collection becomes more accessible. (Trevor Bond)

b. How many hours were spent scanning the collection materials?

Scanning: 3 minutes per image x 1241 62.05 hours

62.05 hours: the average time to scan was about three minutes per image.

The scanning process proceeded much faster than previous scanning efforts with a newer scanner (a Microteck 9600XL ). Mike Walpole, our scanning technician, was able to scan the prints in groups with 3-6 photographs--depending on their size-- on the desktop. He returned to each waiting on the desktop in photoshop. This saved a great deal of time by skipping the time to reopen and preview each individual photograph. (Trevor Bond)

I was able to scan about 19 pictures an hour and for most of the days that I worked, I worked 6 to 8 hrs a day. This would total about approximately 152 pictures a day. (Mike Walpole)

Table 2

Table 2 provides some information on the Digital Imaging Initiative Pilot Project collections (as of October 1, 2000) that are served from the Washington State University Libraries CONTENT server:

Table 1

Database Descriptions JPEG Service Images Typical JPEG Resolution Average JPEG File Size
Through Open Eyes: Ninety-Five Years of Black History in Roslyn, Washington 42 42 300 DPI 69.2 KB

Indian Language collection - Textual portion 46 46 150 DPI 123 KB
Indian Language collection - Image portion 10 10 150 DPI 133 KB

Frank S. Matsura Image Collection 1168 1241 72 DPI 52 KB