John Muir Letters: Applying MPLP to a Compound/Complex Object Digitization Workflow (Elings, 2009)

Mary W. ElingsArchivist for Digital Collections

The Bancroft Library

John Muir LettersApplying MPLP to a Compound/Complex Object

Digitization Workflow


The Bancroft LibraryUniversity of California

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Forum: Digitization Matters

Ricky Erway and Jennifer SchaffnerShifting Gears: Gearing Up to Get Into the Flow (2007)

www.oclc.org/programs/publications/reports/2007-02.pdf



More Product, Less Process

Mark A. Greene/Dennis Meissner “More Product, Less Process: Pragmatically Revamping Approaches to Deal with Late 20th Century Collections” (2004)

http://ahc.uwyo.edu/documents/faculty/greene/papers/Greene-Meissner.pdf




• Principles for Change– Maximize user access (preeminent goal)– Golden minimum “good enough” is realistic

– Arrange and describe at a common, aggregate level

– Reserve exceptional effort only when warranted

– Accomplish more by trying to do less




• Principles for Change– Maximize user access (preeminent goal)– Golden minimum “good enough” digitization is realistic

– Arrange, describe and digitize at a common, aggregate level

– Reserve exceptional digitization effort only when warranted

– Accomplish more digitization by trying to do less

(my own co-opted version!)



Planning Goals

– Apply MPLP to digitization workflow• Use extant metadata to group and describe compound

objects in automated way

• Scan at low cost, get more done for less

• Use microfilm to avoid high end scanning of originals

– Develop a workflow that would accommodate CDM access and CDL access

• Increase access via multiple portals, avoid content silo

• Transform compound CDM to complex METS objects

• Develop workflow path for others to follow



Local History Digital Resources Project (LHDRP)http://www.cdlib.org/inside/projects/oac/lsta/handbook/lhdrp_handbook.pdf

http://www.cdlib.org/inside/projects/oac/lsta/handbook/lhdrp_handbook.pdf

LHDRP Example:

•simple METS object

• single image

•exported from CONTENTdm

LHDRP Example:

•simple METS object

• single image

•exported from CONTENTdm

Letter from John Muir to Clara Reed Anthony, August 2, 1891.

2002 Bancroft Pilot Example:

•complex METS object

• multiple images from microfilm

•attempt to do more at less cost



John Muir Letters Project Workflow

scan filmscan film

transcribe letter/mdtranscribe letter/md

load compound obj to CDMload compound obj to CDM

transform co-to-co obj (rev 7train)transform co-to-co obj (rev 7train)

submit complex obj METS/FAsubmit complex obj METS/FA

accessaccess

preservepreserve

export xmlexport xml

modify mdmodify md

create compound obj CDM loadcreate compound obj CDM load

OCLC Preservation ServicesOCLC Preservation Services

California Digital LibraryCalifornia Digital Library

The Bancroft libraryThe Bancroft library

University of the PacificUniversity of the Pacific

create finding aidcreate finding aid



CDL

INSTITUTION

VENDOR

CONTENTdm Compound Object to METS Workflow

scan/transcribe Create CDM load

load to/access via CDM

7train transform submit METS/FA

access preserve

export xml



More Product, Less ProcessAccess (preeminent goal)• CONTENTdm at UoP and OAC/Calisphere (and beyond)

Good enough• Grayscale scans of microfilm vs. full color of originals• Used extant metadata and vendor transcription

Aggregate level description and grouping• Based on extant metadata cards, no item level

Exceptional effort only when warranted• Secondary source material, not originals, so not warranted

Accomplish more with less• More letters, greater access, less cost, and new shareable workflow model



Questions?

Mary W. ElingsArchivist for Digital CollectionsThe Bancroft LibraryUniversity of California

Education

John Muir Letters: Applying MPLP to a Compound/Complex Object Digitization Workflow (Elings, 2009)