This document summarizes digitization and digital preservation activities at Addis Ababa University. It outlines the university's Electronic Theses and Dissertations Repository, digitization of museum collections, mass digitization of library collections, digitization of local journals and ancient manuscripts. It notes challenges like lack of standards and centralized management. It then introduces a new Digital Projects Centre initiative between the university library, schools and research centre to conduct digitization projects, develop instructional resources, implement repository management and define policies to support digital content creation and access.

1. Digitization and Digital Preservation
Activities and Initiatives at the Addis
Ababa University
Teklemichael T. Wordofa
Teferat@gmail.com
Addis Ababa University
International Conference on African Digital Libraries and Archives
17-18 Nov. 2011, Johannesburg, SA 0

2. Outline
• Current Major Practices
– Building Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Repository (AAU-ETD)
– Digitization of Museum Collections
– Mass Digitization of Library Collections
– Digitization of Locally Published Journals
– Digitization of Ancient Monastery Manuscripts
• Challenges of Current Practices
• Initiation of a Digital Projects Centre (DPC)
1

3. Building Electronic Theses and
Dissertations Repository (AAU-ETDR)
• Initiation & Management
• Collection Development & workflow
• Future Plans
– Direct submission by the students
– Scaling up into national ETDR
http://etd.aau.edu.et/dspace
2

4. 3

5. Digitization of Museum Collection
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Quic kTime™ and a
dec ompr es sor
are needed to s ee this pic ture.
4

6. Mass Digitization of Library Collections
Order of Priority
1. Endanger publications
due to physical wear
and tear
2. Theses and
dissertations
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
3. High on demand
publications
4. Indigenous and unique
publications
5. Copyright free
publications from the
general collection
5

7. Digitization of Locally Published Journals
6

8. Digitization of Ancient Monastery Manuscripts
7

9. Challenges of Current Practices
• Increase in disparate digitization practices
• No standards for metadata and digital
images
• No system for storage and maintenance of
digital images
• Lacks University-wide policy governing
issues of preservation, access & services
• Scarcity of resources for digitization
8

10. Initiation of a Digital Projects Centre
(DPC)
• The DPC is a joint initiative of the:
– University Library
– School of Information Sciences
– Academy of Ethiopian Languages and
Cultures
– School of Graduate Studies and Research
• Supported by the AAU strategic plan (2008-
2013)
9

11. Objectives of DPC
• Conduct a broad range of digital projects,
including the digitization of library and
museum collections and archives
• Facilitate research in information retrieval
technologies for indigenous digital collections,
and digital library projects
• Develop instructional resources and
experiment with the application of digital content
in teaching and learning
10

12. Objectives of DPC (Cont..)
• Provide digital services and guidance
including imaging, archival storage of
electronic files and metadata development
standards and formats
• Implement a digital repository management
system throughout the AAU
• Define mechanisms for the production,
storage, and access management of digital
library content
11

13. Objectives of DPC (Cont..)
• Investigate architecture, services, user
requirements, and policies that facilitate the
creation, management, accessibility, and
longevity of digital information
12

14. Thank you!
13