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Educate And Train People In The Use Of Digital Imaging Collections Enhancing network dissemination of digital resources goes hand-in-hand with educating people about using the technology. CIDC staff participate in workshops to train faculty, museum and library professionals, archivists, and corporate personnel in how to use digital technology to create images, build virtual collections, and put these collections online. Because digital technology is so adaptable, CIDC staff provide users with tools and templates so that they can customize collections for their particular uses. Classes can be offered on campus, and online tutorials will also be developed for remote access. The versatility of digital technology demands a flexible environment. CIDC trains people to create virtual exhibits, which can then be posted on the Web.
The Digital Imaging Process Using imaging technologies such as digital cameras and flatbed, film, and overhead scanners, documents are reproduced in digital form. the high resolution scanning creates accurate facsimiles of original documents and artwork, capturing antiquated typefaces, original layout, handwriting, illuminations, line drawings, color, brush strokes, and other unique qualities of the works. The scanned image is then incorporated into an online collection. Typically small images of items in a collection are accessed first; larger versions can be retrieved on command. The digital gallery may be supplemented by descriptive, historical, of biographical text. Users can search for images and information, and the ability to print copies permits objects n the collections to be studied more closely offline. Extensible Markup Language (XML)During 1999, CIDC
undertook a number of experiments on the potential of Extensible Markup
Language (XML) for the organization and presentation of archival
materials. CIDC staff
modified an encoding standard for manuscript materials known as Encoded
Archival Description (EAD) to be compatible with XML and then proceeded to
encode several archival finding aids in it.
Through the innovative use of free software, CIDC staff have also
been able to
automatically convert the files to HTML for presentation on the Web
to users without XML browsers. Other
experiments explored the use of XML schemas for the presentation and
manipulation of tabular data, and tested the possible use of EAD-encoded
finding aids at the root of a digital image delivery system. As a result of these investigations, the Cornell University Library has decided to implement a major internal project to convert all existing finding aids to the EAD standard. The work is being conducted in the different curatorial units responsible for the creation of the finding aids. CIDC hopes to conduct further research in the effective navigation, exploration, and display of the valuable resource that is being created in response to our initial investigations. |
