Same Goal, New Challenge: An introduction to the Bodleian Electronic Archives and Manuscripts (BEAM) project

Same Goal, New Challenge An introduction to the futureArch project & BEAM Digital Repositories Workshop: Tools and Infrastructure http://futurearchives.blogspot.com 23rd Apr 2009 University of Oxford /

ver T hus Tw as E Digital Repositories Workshop: Tools and The Works of Francis Bacon, http://futurearchives.blogspot.com Baron of Verulam, Viscount Infrastructure St. Alban and Lord High Chancellor of England in Ten Volumes, 23rd Apr 2009 University of Oxford / Volume 5, London, 1803

ver T hu s Tw as E Digital Repositories Workshop: Tools and The Works of Francis Bacon, http://futurearchives.blogspot.com 2 Baron of Verulam, Viscount Infrastructure St. Alban and Lord High Chancellor of England in Ten Volumes, 23rd Apr 2009 University of Oxford / Volume 5, London, 1803

Digital Repositories Workshop: Tools and Infrastructure http://futurearchives.blogspot.com 23rd Apr 2009 University of Oxford /

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digitised from Born Digital Manuscripts using manuscripts from & Digital Repositories Workshop: Tools and Infrastructure http://futurearchives.blogspot.com 23rd Apr 2009 University of Oxford /

Archives & Mansc ri pts • Documentary materials accumulated by individuals or organisations • First hand accounts, correspondence, etc. • Largely unpublished • Increasingly hybrid • Multiple: sources, formats, negotiations, accessions (over time) Digital Repositories Workshop: Tools and Infrastructure http://futurearchives.blogspot.com 23rd Apr 2009 University of Oxford /

Babara Castle & the P C Ws • Total archive: 800 boxes, 1903 – 2002 • Lots and lots of paper! • 1 box of video, 1 box of audio • 31 Amstrad PCW disks (including 6 never used) 1989-1992 • Two PCs, ?1992-1997, 1997-2002 • Four 3’5” disks (largely backups from PC) Digital Repositories Workshop: Tools and Infrastructure http://futurearchives.blogspot.com 23rd Apr 2009 University of Oxford /

Same Goal • To have “built an ark” for manuscripts, to keep them safe, preserve their authenticity and where possible provide context • We’re doing the same thing for born digital materials Digital Repositories Workshop: Tools and Infrastructure http://futurearchives.blogspot.com 23rd Apr 2009 University of Oxford /

New Challenge • Digital Media • Identifying collections • Do we keep the media? • How do we access content? – Forensics machine & old hardware • Digital Content (if we can get it!) • Authenticity – emulate or transform? • Access – who, what and when? Digital Repositories Workshop: Tools and Infrastructure http://futurearchives.blogspot.com 23rd Apr 2009 University of Oxford /

futureArch • Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Funded • 3 Years – ends January 2012 • First phase of the development of “Bodleian Electronic Archives & Manuscripts” (BEAM) • Who we are: • Susan Thomas, Digital Archivist & Project Manager • Renhart Gittens, Software Engineer • Peter Cliff, Software Engineer • Project Archivist (Recruiting soon) • Library Graduate Trainee (Recruiting now) Digital Repositories Workshop: Tools and Infrastructure http://futurearchives.blogspot.com 23rd Apr 2009 University of Oxford /

Research y Infrast Polic Support ructure nd en d-to-e •On and off site •Esta blish • Define s BEAM a s service Activie roles & access to hybrid s, policie ties collections •Esta blish BE • Inform nsibili Infrastru AM respo ary cture, sh in Libr common aring • Embed et compone budg with ODL nts & ORA Collections l •Donor confidence fes siona •Transfer tools/help P ro s& ystem aff •Legacy holdings lA ims eve ,s •New materials • Training ratorial st hL cu to ols for te Trainee Hig • Gradua nation i • Dissem Digital Repositories Workshop: Tools and Infrastructure http://futurearchives.blogspot.com 23rd Apr 2009 University of Oxford /

New methods • (digital) deluge? • Early intervention • Enable creators to manage and preserve their materials • Accession often (avoids obsolescence) • Capture contextual information from the creators (including passwords!) • Requires • Trust • Guaranteed confidentiality • Distributed approach Digital Repositories Workshop: Tools and Infrastructure http://futurearchives.blogspot.com 23rd Apr 2009 University of Oxford /

Current Activity • Modifying accessions process to identify digital material as it arrives • Secure and robust storage – DAMS • Processes and tools and a curation manual for acquisition, capture and ingest • Identifying and preserving material in legacy collections • Automatic metadata creation/tools Digital Repositories Workshop: Tools and Infrastructure http://futurearchives.blogspot.com 23rd Apr 2009 University of Oxford /

Future Focus • Interfaces & tools • For curators: management, cataloguing and enquiries, etc. • For researchers: integration with Western Manuscripts online catalogues, the Library and, were appropriate, the Web. • Digital Preservation Policies • Extending acquisition to cope with new channels • Materials from the Web • Materials in the Cloud • Access • Researcher tools • Processing of archives for researcher access • Publication pathways (closed -> reading room -> open Web) Digital Repositories Workshop: Tools and Infrastructure http://futurearchives.blogspot.com 23rd Apr 2009 University of Oxford /

In Conc lusion • We are continuing the age old tradition of housing manuscripts within the Library • The types of materials in collections has changed • Collections themselves are changing • futureArch is enabling the Library and its staff to cope with these new materials Digital Repositories Workshop: Tools and Infrastructure http://futurearchives.blogspot.com 23rd Apr 2009 University of Oxford /

The futureArch Junk Appeal We are always on the lookout for old bits of kit – from cables to complete systems - that could be used to help us recover content from obsolete media. If you want to make some space in your office, loft or neighbourhood skip, please contact us! peter.cliff@ouls.ox.ac.uk susan.thomas@bodley.ox.ac.uk renhart.gittens@ouls.ox.ac.uk Digital Repositories Workshop: Tools and Infrastructure http://futurearchives.blogspot.com 23rd Apr 2009 University of Oxford /

Links http://delicious.com/pixelatedpete/drwitox-20090423 Thanks Thanks to Susan Thomas, from whom I borrowed many of these slides/ideas! Thanks boss!  Q uestions? Digital Repositories Workshop: Tools and Infrastructure http://futurearchives.blogspot.com 23rd Apr 2009 University of Oxford /

Same Goal, New Challenge: An introduction to the Bodleian Electronic Archives and Manuscripts (BEAM) project

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