Posts Tagged ‘Archives’
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…
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…
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…
Mount Vernon’s Digital Decade:
10 Years of Scanning Projects with The Crowley Company
Nearly 10 years after The Crowley Company’s (Crowley) original blog on digitizing collections with George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the two institutions continue to share the legacy of George and Martha through digital preservation. Since then, Crowley has assisted in six Mount Vernon scanning projects (producing over 20,000+ digital images). While the materials have changed and the technology has advanced, the process and partnership have remained constant. In honor of the first ever State of the Union address (given by George…
Innovating Tradition: Belmont University’s Special Collections Digitization
Belmont University Scans School and Alumni History using the Zeutschel OS C Book Scanner Established in 1890 in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee, Belmont University began providing women with not just an education but a platform for cultural, intellectual and social development. In doing so, the university set what would become its legacy for innovation and embracing change. The university’s latest step towards technological innovation — the purchase of a Zeutschel OS C overhead book scanner — both advances the…
Digitization Champions:
Recapping #AmericanArchivesMonth
As the crisp autumn air changes into a frosty winter breeze, I must accept that “spooky season” is over and with it ends Crowley’s daily #AmericanArchivesMonth social media shout-outs to archive clients using Crowley’s digitization products, services and support. For those that don’t follow Crowley online, now is the time to redeem yourself and follow @CrowleyScans on all platforms. While I begrudgingly exchange my ghosts, bats and witches for all things pumpkin, I’m comforted knowing that archives can still be…
Digitized Oral History Puts Control Back in the Hands of Native Communities
Working for a digitization company that focuses primarily on still media, it’s easy to forget that not all records are written down or photographed. In Native American cultures, oral traditions play a big role in passing stories, history and heritage to the next generation. Unfortunately, as delicate as paper can be, human lives are even more fragile. This makes the passing of these stories critical to the preservation of tribal communities. The University of New Mexico (UNM) has been one…
Preserving Legacies: Baylor University and the Zeutschel ScanStudio
Beyond the fountain of youth or the holy grail, digitization is one of the best tools for fighting mortality. If this seems like an overly romantic train of thought, it is. But in a world where our stories are our legacy, the written word – and creating a long-living, high-quality replication of that word – becomes life beyond death. Baylor University’s Ray I. Riley Digitization Center (RDC) preserves the legacies of various artists and histories through their capture and digital…