Creating a Digital Library with Open Source Software NHLA Spring 2008 Concord, New Hampshire

Background

Challenges of the Original Materials Deterioration No index; items were hard to locate Low accessibility

Deterioration

No index; items were hard to locate

Low accessibility

Primary Goals Encourage preservation Improve accessibility and visibility

Encourage preservation

Improve accessibility and visibility

Objectives Subject headings linking similar articles Full-text search capability Web-accessible

Subject headings linking similar articles

Full-text search capability

Web-accessible

Inspiration Beyond Brown Paper http://beyondbrownpaper.plymouth.edu

Beyond Brown Paper

http://beyondbrownpaper.plymouth.edu

WordPress Open Source Software Blogging Software

Open Source Software

Blogging Software

Why WordPress Works Full-text searching Broad categories Tags Web-based Dynamic pages built on a database

Full-text searching

Broad categories

Tags

Web-based

Dynamic pages built on a database

Process Simplified Installed WordPress on a remote server Purchased a domain name Scanned or keyed in the data Added each article as separate blog post Continued to tweak the template, plugins, etc.

Installed WordPress on a remote server

Purchased a domain name

Scanned or keyed in the data

Added each article as separate blog post

Continued to tweak the template, plugins, etc.

Costs Open source software = Free Web hosting = $10/month Domain name costs = $6.00/year I have an inexpensive scanner with OCR software (cost $100) I used my own computer.

Open source software = Free

Web hosting = $10/month

Domain name costs = $6.00/year

I have an inexpensive scanner with OCR software (cost $100)

I used my own computer.

Outcomes The warrant articles can be found through a full-text search . The articles can be browsed by subject, topic, or year. The articles are easily accessible online . Hopefully, the materials will be handled less.

The warrant articles can be found through a full-text search .

The articles can be browsed by subject, topic, or year.

The articles are easily accessible online .

Hopefully, the materials will be handled less.

Learn from My Mistakes Plan Plan Plan

Plan

Plan

Plan

Planning a Digital Library Create a small sample project Digitize no more than 5% of your materials to start with. Implement different plug-ins and themes. Develop a solid navigation structure with categories and tags.

Create a small sample project

Digitize no more than 5% of your materials to start with.

Implement different plug-ins and themes.

Develop a solid navigation structure with categories and tags.

Planning a Digital Library Readjust your plan accordingly. New versions of WordPress or other open source software will continue to be developed. New features may be added that would enhance your site. Be aware of new features in development.

Readjust your plan accordingly.

New versions of WordPress or other open source software will continue to be developed.

New features may be added that would enhance your site.

Be aware of new features in development.

Planning a Digital Library Consider using your own computer as a host for the sample project. Using your own computer, versus a remote server, can save you time when developing a new project.

Consider using your own computer as a host for the sample project.

Using your own computer, versus a remote server, can save you time when developing a new project.

Planning a Digital Library Learn as much as you can about the software before starting your main project. Use the pilot project as a way to learn the software, implement plug-ins and themes, etc.

Learn as much as you can about the software before starting your main project.

Use the pilot project as a way to learn the software, implement plug-ins and themes, etc.

Planning a Digital Library Collaborate closely with other organizations. WordPress software can easily be configured to allow for multiple contributors. Work with volunteers from the library or other town organizations, like the historical society, to help build the site.

Collaborate closely with other organizations.

WordPress software can easily be configured to allow for multiple contributors.

Work with volunteers from the library or other town organizations, like the historical society, to help build the site.

Think Outside the Box Look at the big picture. Don’t get caught up with the traditional library-methods of creating a digital library. However you decide to digitize and publish your collection, you will have increased its accessibility and helped to preserve the materials.

Look at the big picture.

Don’t get caught up with the traditional library-methods of creating a digital library.

However you decide to digitize and publish your collection, you will have increased its accessibility and helped to preserve the materials.

Primary Goals Revisited Increase the visibility and accessibility of our collections Help to preserve physical collections

Increase the visibility and accessibility of our collections

Help to preserve physical collections