Date post: | 20-Dec-2015 |
Category: |
Documents |
View: | 213 times |
Download: | 0 times |
Actual content in a virtual world
Simon Wilson Mersey Gateway Project Manager
tel: 0151 233 5819email: [email protected]
www.mersey-gateway.org
what is digitisation?The process of creating a binary representation of an object (eg photo, book or manuscript etc) which can then be
- manipulated
- stored
- transmitted
- displayed
why digitise?• because we can?
• to enhance access – (eg 1901 census)
• conservation/preservation – (eg Beowolf @ British Library)
• to increase awareness & use– (eg Mersey Gateway)
• adding value– searching– create a virtual collection
how to digitise?
in-house or outsource?– scope and range of material to be digitised
• flatbed scanner or overhead camera
– existing skills and experience– IT support– timescales – budget
a showcase of material held
in libraries, archives and
museums across the region
relating to Liverpool and
Merseyside
The project would not have been possible without the support of our partners: Halton Borough Council; Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley; Metropolitan Borough of St Helens; Metropolitan Borough of Sefton; Warrington Borough Council; Metropolitan Borough of Wirral; Cheshire and Chester Archives and Local Studies Service; Lancashire Record Office; National Museums Liverpool; University of Liverpool; North West Sound Archive, Salt Museum Northwich and the Catalyst Museum.
www.mersey-gateway.org
the story of the port, the city and the region is told through hundreds of stories and thousands of
images looking at specific people, places, buildings and events
the ideal scenario...– someone with a basic interest in a subject reads a story or looks at a
few of the images – after 5 minutes says “I didn’t know that ….”
• informal learning, likely to tell others about the site and pass the
knowledge on
– lifelong learners not academics/professionals
encouraging access & use
as a starting point – further reading and web links– partner library/archive/museum references given
» encourage users to view the original items– general guides to using a range of resources
• maps, street directories, newspapers etc
list of themes & topics on the site
search and
browse the site
guides to using
archiveslinks to stories - changes each
time you visit the site
stories
the site features hundreds of stories with links to find out more about a particular place, person, building, vessel or event
wherever possible a story will include
links to related stories or galleries
how has it been built...
managed via a Content Management System
• stories & images
• On This Day
• multiple-choice quizzes
• feedback forms
• link library
• gallery feature
how has it been built...
Metadata
• ‘data about data’
• Dublin Core at the heart of the CMS
• simply select from an editable list of terms
• much of it is done as part of the batch upload process
search & browse- free-text
- by historical period [e.g. 19th Century]
- by areas of interest [ships & shipping]
- by type of person [engineers]
- by collection type [prints & drawings] - by location (of the item) [Central Library]
or a combination of all of the above
one search- finds all (hopefully)
• stories• individual images• image galleries• archive collections• quizzes
• zoom tool - allows you to explore an image in more detail
•avoid using ‘pop-up’ boxes - accessibility
not just the ‘treasures’
GOOD PEOPLE,
BAD IDEAS AND THE
UGLY CLUB
Liverpool Overhead Railway
impact...• site launched in Sept 2003 as part of
Archives Awareness month• since then thousands more images
have been added
• website usage (since Sept 2003)– more than 28,000 ‘visits’ – 450,000 ‘page views’– 2m ‘hits’
• impact on partners?