Digitization and Public Libraries

Patrons and libraries can do so much with digitization! And with the Mobile Archive Project, the Mississippi Library Commission wants to help make that possible. The Mobile Archive Project is one of the services offered by the Mississippi Library Commission. Libraries can check out a portable scanner kit for use in a digitization project. A member of the Mississippi Library Commission will bring the scanner kit to the library and show librarians how to use the scanning program, scan objects, and save digital files for ease of use.

The scanner in the kit is an overhead scanner. Unlike a typical flatbed scanner, an overhead scanner is perfect for scanning 3D or fragile objects. You simply place the object on the provided mat, press the button on the scanner, and it scans an overhead view of whatever object you’re scanning. This is great for scanning physical objects like medals, art projects, or plaques. It is also good for scanning books: the overhead scanner has a setting that accounts for the bend of a book’s pages, letting you edit it so all the text is straight, readable, and not crooked.

Knowing how to use the scanner is good, but what should you scan in the first place? There are so many items that could benefit from digitization. Does your library have fragile records? You could digitize those to help save wear and tear on the physical copies. Does your library have a collection of letters by a famous author? You could digitize those so that they could be easily shared with multiple people. Does your library have a photograph collection? You could digitize those so they could be shared on social media.

Now that you’ve digitized these items, how can you share them with the world? If your library is a partner with the Mississippi Digital Library, they can host the files for you. If you want to keep the files for staff use only, uploading them to a flash drive or a Google Drive account will do the trick. High use items can be hosted on the library’s website or by an image hosting site such as Photobucket—just be cautious about privacy and copyright limitations. If you REALLY want to explore your options and know someone tech-savvy, an open source collections management program like CollectiveAccess could give your collection a museum-like polish.

There are so many options with digitization! Proper digitization can help reduce wear and tear on some items and let you share other items with the world. If your institution has heavy traffic items, fragile items, or anything awkwardly shaped you want to share with the world, I hope you consider digitization to help continue the spread of information.