This document discusses applying MPLP (More Product, Less Process) principles to the digitization of archival collections. It describes several digitization projects at the Bancroft Library that followed MPLP guidelines, focusing on maximizing access through aggregate-level description and digitization. These included microfilm projects and a pilot project digitizing photographs. It also mentions future collaborations with the Internet Archive to digitize a large volume of NASA materials.
Applying MPLP Principles to Digitization of Archival Collections (Elings, 2008)
1. SCA Annual General Meeting, May 1-3, 2008 Mary W. Elings, The Bancroft Library
Applying MPLP Principles
to Digitization of Archival
Collections
Mary W. Elings, The Bancroft Library
Merrilee Proffitt, OCLC/RLG Programs
James Eason , The Bancroft Library
2. SCA Annual General Meeting, May 1-3, 2008 Mary W. Elings, The Bancroft Library
Applying MPLP Principles
to Digitization of Archival
Collections
Mary W. Elings
Archivist for Digital Collections
The Bancroft Library
University of California Berkeley
3. SCA Annual General Meeting, May 1-3, 2008 Mary W. Elings, The Bancroft Library
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
4. SCA Annual General Meeting, May 1-3, 2008 Mary W. Elings, The Bancroft Library
More Product, Less Process
• Principles for Change
– Maximize user access (preeminent goal)
– Golden minimum “good enough” is realistic
– Arrange, describe and at a common, aggregate level
– Reserve exceptional effort only when warranted
– Accomplish more by trying to do less
5. SCA Annual General Meeting, May 1-3, 2008 Mary W. Elings, The Bancroft Library
Forces
• Lack of funding sources
6. SCA Annual General Meeting, May 1-3, 2008 Mary W. Elings, The Bancroft Library
Forces
• Lack of funding sources
• Mass digitization
7. SCA Annual General Meeting, May 1-3, 2008 Mary W. Elings, The Bancroft Library
Forces
• Lack of funding sources
• Mass digitization
8. SCA Annual General Meeting, May 1-3, 2008 Mary W. Elings, The Bancroft Library
9. SCA Annual General Meeting, May 1-3, 2008 Mary W. Elings, The Bancroft Library
Forces
• Lack of funding sources
• Mass digitization
• User expectations
10. SCA Annual General Meeting, May 1-3, 2008 Mary W. Elings, The Bancroft Library
Forces
• Lack of funding sources
• Mass digitization
• User expectations
ARNOLD ROTH, New Yorker (February 5, 2007)
11. SCA Annual General Meeting, May 1-3, 2008 Mary W. Elings, The Bancroft Library
Newspapers
Manuscripts
Images
Microfilm
Books
Archives
So much to digitize….
12. SCA Annual General Meeting, May 1-3, 2008 Mary W. Elings, The Bancroft Library
Microfilm Pilot (2003)
• George and Phoebe Apperson Hearst
Papers (selections)
• Newly created microfilm
• Targets present (aggregate grouping)
• 4000 frames scanned @ $0.50/frame
• Folder level digital objects
13. SCA Annual General Meeting, May 1-3, 2008 Mary W. Elings, The Bancroft Library
14. SCA Annual General Meeting, May 1-3, 2008 Mary W. Elings, The Bancroft Library
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18. SCA Annual General Meeting, May 1-3, 2008 Mary W. Elings, The Bancroft Library
Other Microfilm Projects
• 16,000 pages of Bancroft Dictations (2004)
• 100,000 pages of Historic CA Newspapers as part
of NDNP (2005-2007)
• LHDRP workflow (potential)
• What has changed:
– Price is dropping: $0.30/frame
– Specifications stabilizing
• 300-400 ppi or 4000 along longest edge
• grayscale, JP2, PDF
– Can scan first, then create MF or vice versa
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22. SCA Annual General Meeting, May 1-3, 2008 Mary W. Elings, The Bancroft Library
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Examiner Pilot (2007-2008)
• San Francisco examiner photograph
archive (selections)
• ca. 3,600,000 negatives total
• Pilot: 170,000 nitrate negatives
• Sleeve-level digital objects
• Low resolution scanning
(access/reference images only)
27. SCA Annual General Meeting, May 1-3, 2008 Mary W. Elings, The Bancroft Library
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What’s Next?
• NASA and Internet Archive
• Space Act
– to develop a massive online archive of photography, film and
video from NASA’s 50-year history
– five-year, non-exclusive agreement wherein the Internet Archive
will digitize, host and manage still, moving and computer-
generated imagery produced by NASA.
– The NASA Images site should be up by July 1, 2008,
(www.nasaimages.org)
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2007/aug/HQ_07178_I
nternet_Archive.html
31. SCA Annual General Meeting, May 1-3, 2008 Mary W. Elings, The Bancroft Library
More Product, Less Process
• 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