Author Archive
The Benefits of Choosing Preservation-Grade Hardware
Preservation-grade is more than just a marketing phrase. Not all scanners are equal. For cultural heritage, government records, or institutional archives, “good enough” isn’t enough. Preservation-grade is a term that often appears in archival conservation, but it also can apply to digital preservation. The word preservation means keeping something safe from harm and in its original state. In conservation, preservation-grade materials and techniques do this by protecting, storing, or displaying items for long-term stability and minimal deterioration. Digital preservation aids…
Metadata in Digitization Projects: Types, Standards, and Best Practices
Metadata in digitization projects is a critical element that most people overlook. Without well-structured metadata, digitized collections quickly become difficult to manage, search, and reuse. Metadata enables organizations to locate files, understand how they were created, and maintain the integrity of digital assets over time. For archives, libraries, museums, and corporate records departments, consistent metadata ensures that digital collections remain searchable, organized, and usable long after the original digitization project is complete. Understanding Metadata in Digitization Projects At a high…
Preservation vs. Access: Understanding the Difference
In conversations about digitization, two words surface again and again: preservation and access. They are two sides of the same coin, and understanding the distinction is essential for any organization responsible for safeguarding information, history, or institutional memory. Whether you are responsible for archival collections, government records, academic libraries, or corporate documents, long-term success depends on finding the right balance between the two. Preservation ensures that materials will be available for future generations, while access allows people to use and…
Upgrade vs. Replace: An Equipment Decision Guide
Utilize this information as a guide to help you determine if you should upgrade vs. replace your equipment. How to Evaluate Existing Systems for Evolving Digitization Needs As digitization needs change, many organizations find themselves asking a familiar question: should we upgrade our current equipment, or is it time to consider a full replacement? There is no single answer that fits every situation. The age of your equipment is only part of the story, and it is understandable to hesitate…
What Is Digital Preservation?
An Introduction to Long-Term Access, Authenticity, and Sustainability in Digitization Projects
Many people use the terms digital preservation and digitization as if they mean the same thing, but they are quite different. Scanning a document or converting film to a digital file is just the beginning. True digital preservation is what keeps that file accurate, accessible, and usable for years—sometimes decades—into the future. For organizations that care for records, archives, or cultural heritage collections, digital preservation is essential. It is the foundation that protects the investment in digitization and ensures that…
Preparing for the Unimaginable: Emergency Planning for Libraries, Museums, and Archives
With the recent containment of the LA wildfires, now begins the challenging process of assessing the damage and restoring what once was. Unfortunately, many historical sites, libraries, archives, and museums in Southern California have been severely impacted, with countless artifacts lost and buildings destroyed or damaged. Sadly, this is a reality that many communities across the country continue to face, as natural disasters—whether wildfires, hurricanes, floods, or other incidents—threaten lives, homes, and irreplaceable cultural heritage. In times like these, communities…
Honoring A Legacy: Celebrating 50 Years of Mekel Technology
You might expect a company in the business of preservation to have an extensive archive of its own history. Surprisingly, that’s not always the case. As Mekel Technology, a Crowley Company, (also known as Mekel Engineering until 1999) celebrates its 50th anniversary, we find ourselves reflecting on a remarkable journey that began with a small team of visionaries and on the importance of preserving the history that brought us together. From its modest beginnings in a garage to becoming leaders…
Preserving Voices: Digitizing Howard University’s Historic Black Newspaper Collection
In a landmark move that bridges the past and present, Howard University, through its Moorland-Spingarn Research Center (MSRC) and in collaboration with Howard’s Center for Journalism and Democracy, has embarked on an ambitious project to digitize its historic Black newspaper collection. This effort, powered by a significant partnership with The Crowley Company (Crowley), represents a monumental stride towards making thousands of Black publications accessible in a global digital repository. It’s a project that not only promises to unlock the vast narratives…