Collection Information
More than just a piece of library furniture, the card catalog holds an important, often sentimental place in library history. The specific focus of this digital library will be the card catalog as a cultural icon. Through openly accessible photos, published and unpublished documents, and audio files, the collection will relate the history of the card catalog as an invention. It will also focus on specific card catalogs, emphasizing personal and nostalgic perspectives. A featured part of the collection will be "Card Catalogs: Where are They Now?" which will include photos of card catalogs in their current varied uses with anecdotes (text and audio) from owners. This collection is important because it will maintain a piece of library history, and there are no similar efforts in place.
Sample items to digitize:
Collection Development Policy:
The mission of this digital library is to ensure open and equal access to materials about the card catalog as a cultural icon. It will engage the user community in preserving the memory of the card catalog as an important piece of library history. It does not seek to be comprehensive in the area of library history, but will provide materials for study as well as casual use, focusing specifically on the card catalog itself. Published and unpublished documents, images, and audio files will be evaluated for inclusion in this digital library based upon several selection criteria, including but not limited to:
Intended Audience
The primary intended user group for this digital library includes librarians and library historians. The collection included will be of both interest to the casual and scholarly user. Secondary audience groups include the general public with interests in libraries, as well as individuals interested in American cultural history, antique furniture, the history of information technologies, and similar areas.
Digitization Process
Concerning the methods/process for digitizing, this project will follow the Western States Digital Imaging Best Practices for visual materials.
(See http://cdpheritage.org/resource/scanning/documents/WSDIBP_v1.pdf) This project will also follow the Colorado Digitization Program’s standards for best practices in digitization of audio materials. (See http://cdpheritage.org/resource/audio/documents/CDPDABP_1-2.pdf)
Representation formats:
The collection will include documents, as well as photographic images and audio files.
Representation formats were chosen in accordance with the Colorado Digitization Program’s recommendations. For images, there will be a high quality master image stored in the TIFF format, which will ensure longevity and will be used to create derivative images. The JPEG derivative images will include an access image which is sized to fit the average computer monitor, and a thumbnail image, which is presented to the user with metadata. For purposes of the Greenstone prototype, each image will have one JPEG version, which will be incorporated into an HTML page with viewable metadata, similar to the format presented to users of the American Memory project digital library. Search or browse http://memory.loc.gov for examples. To allow users with vision impairments to access information as well, all images will have text alternatives available.
Metadata Strategy
This collection will use the Dublin Core Metadata Element Set, version 1.1 (available at http://dublincore.org/docments/dces). As part of an effort to meet Open Archives Initiative standards, unqualified Dublin Core will be used. This scheme is well-recognized by the World Wide Web community, allows for tagging a variety of file formats, and, because it is a recognized standard, has positive implications for compatibility. Due to its simplicity, it facilitates ease of maintenance and is easily understandable by the general user. The following table describes which DC elements are used and how they are interpreted for purposes of this digital library.
Dublin Core Metadata Element |
Use in this digital library |
|---|---|
| Title | Describes the name the digital library creator gives to a digital object (image, document, etc.) within the collection. |
| Contributor | Describes the current owners of the card catalog being profiled. |
| Coverage | Describes the current geographical location of the card catalog, using the Thesaurus of Geographic Names namespace when applicable. (See TGN Online for more information.) |
| Description | Describes the former location of the card catalog, as well as a short description of the digital object (i.e. image content). |
| Date | Describes the date associated with the creation of the resource, such as the date a photograph was taken, or the date an interview occurred. |
| Format | Describes the digital manifestation of the object, such as JPEG or PDF. |
| Creator | Describes the person responsible for creation of a resource, such as the individual who took a photograph. |
| Subject | Describes the topics of content within a resource. This digital library uses keywords assigned by the administrator. These include, but are not limited to, the owner's last name, the current and former geographical locations, the manufacturer, and the current use. Digital objects that have an identified source inherit the subject(s) assigned to the source, as well as additional subject(s) if applicable. |
| Identifier | Describes a unique identifying value assigned to each digital object. For purposes of the digital library prototype, these are internally-assigned numerical values. Ideally, a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) system would be utilized. |
| Source | Describes the whole digital object of which the item being described is a part. For example, to describe a photograph of drawer 7 of a card catalog, the Source element would refer to the whole catalog. References the source by its unique identifier. |
| Relation | Describes that the digital object being described is related to other digital objects. References the related item's unique identifier. |
Architectural Decisions
Inter- and Intra-document Links:
The webpage serving as the entrance to the digital library will include several internal links, including:
Value-added Applications
Community Blog:
The feature of this digital library that makes it more than simply a collection is the added component of user community. In an effort to connect users with similar interest in the card catalog subject, the libraryincorporates a community blog component. Blog, short for "web log," is a relatively recent phenomenon, in which individuals or groups create a common web page. The person or group can add comments at any interval, which are then included with a date stamp. In addition to comments, blogs often include external links, and even multi-media. This blog, created with the free, web-based Blogger program (see www.blogger.com), is a place for interested users to share their comments about the card catalog. The CC (card catalog) community blog with be overseen by a blog administrator. The blog is freely accessible on the web at http://cardcatalog.blogspot.com/, but in order to post messages, users must register with the administrator through email. For more information, see the Blog Content Policy.
Interactive Map:
Users will be able to view a United States map that will show representations of card catalogs' original locations (schools, public libraries, etc.). Scrolling over each representation will provide an abbreviated amount of metadata about the item, and customizable options for more information, similar to OpenURL technology. [See Powell, A. (2001). OpenResolver: A Simple OpenURL Resolver. Ariadne magazine, issue 28 for an introduction and access to an OpenURL demonstration.] For example, clicking on one choice will bring users to that item's related digital objects in the collection. Clicking on another option may take users to an outside website with additional information, or the area in the community blog related to that location. The possibilities are endless. This will be an easy and fun way for users to find out where catalogs came from, where they are now, and how they are being used. For an example of an interactive map, see http://map.tfl.gov.uk/map.asp .
Interactive Timeline:
An interactive timeline included as a link from the digital library's frontpage will track the history of the card catalog as an invention. Thumbnail images within the timeline will be clickable, bringing the user to the corresponding part of the collection in Greenstone. Selected words and phrases will be hyperlinked also, leading to more detailed information. An example interactive timeline may be viewed at www.pbs.org/greatwar/timeline/.
Budgetary Considerations
This estimated first-year budget proposal assumes access to infrastructure, such as space and furniture. Ongoing costs to consider include salary/benefits and equipment maintenance/replacement. Sources for cost comparisons for electronic equipment include www.crutchfield.com, www.bestbuy.com, and www.newegg.com.
| Item description | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| One Full-time Equivalent (FTE) employee Responsibilities include soliciting additional materials for the collection, planning & maintaining partnerships, providing reference and user support, administrate value-added applications, including community blog. Cost includes salary and benefits, but does not yet include travel costs for collaboration activities. |
$35,000/year |
| Two to four part-time student assistants (1/2 FTE total) Responsibilities include digitization, adding metadata to items and additional items to the collection. Positions ideally funded through grants. | $8000/year |
| High-quality desktop personal computers (3), monitors (3), printer (1) Selection criteria includes available storage capabilities, hardware and software specifications, and other accessories. |
$9000 |
| High-quality flatbed scanner Selection criteria includes image resolution (pixels per inch), tone/color representation, ability to scan fragile items, availability of technical support, and compatibility with desired file formats. |
$500-$700 |
| High-quality digital camera Selection criteria includes megapixels, photograph quality, available storage formats, ease of use, and availability of technical support. |
$800-$1200 |
| High-quality digital recorder Selection criteria includes recording quality, available file formats, ease of use, available memory and value-added features. |
$100-$250 |
| Estimated 1st year total | $53,400-$54,150 |
| Phase I |
3/7/05 Finalize collection development policy, motivation, and scope. 3/25/05 Begin gathering items to include in collection. 3/25/05 Begin processing and digitizing collection, including assigning metadata. 3/30/05 Establish community blog. 4/11/05 Finalize metadata and interface decisions, as well as additional proposed user tools. 4/20/05 Complete digital library entry webpage, transfer to host server. 4/25/05 Complete prototype collection in Greenstone. |
| Phase II |
5/25/05 Complete collaboration proposal, approach potential partner institutions. 10/31/05 Complete initial colloboration planning, as well as research into potential funding sources. 12/15/05 Complete grant applications. 1/31/05 Complete value-added applications, including map and timeline. |
| Phase III |
2/15/05 Obtain funding, begin collaborative effort to gather and digitize additional pieces for collection. Digitizing images will take priority, and adding text documents and audio will follow when possible. 5/30/06 Ensure OAI compliance, register as a data provider with OAI. 8/30/06 Launch promotional campaign, focusing on LIS list-servs and websites. Ongoing Continue collaborative efforts to enlarge, maintain, and evaluate the digital library; ensure continued funding sources. |
Legal issues:
Individuals are encouraged to use information and digital objects available through this digital library, provided they cite the source. Linking to the digital library's URL is also encouraged. Owners of card catalogs included in the collection, as well as interviewees whose comments are included, will be notified of this open access policy prior to participation and should not participate if they are uncomfortable with the policy.
Preservation:
Every effort will be made to ensure preservation of the collection, as well as access to it. A collaborative effort to maintain the collection, ideally with multiple academic institutions, would ensure greater likelihood of the project continuing. Copies of included audiorecordings, images, and documents will be archived at one of the partner institutions.