The Manchester Centre of Competence for Heritage Digitisation

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The Manchester Centre of Competence for Heritage
Digitisation

• Carol Burrows
• Sponsored by JISC

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The John Rylands University Library

• World-renowned research collections
• Designated by HEFCE as a National research
  Library
• Also designated by the Museums, Libraries and
  Archives Council

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Genizah Project

• Sponsored by AHRC
• 11,000 fragments
• Photographed rectos and versos
• Catalogued and available on-line

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Middle English Manuscript Project

• Sponsored by JISC
• 41 manuscripts, available on-line
• Subjects include English Literature, Religion,
  History, Law, Medicine and Cookery!

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Other projects

• Shahnama (TIMA)
• Dantes Divine Comedy(British Academy)
• Darby Bible (Royal Irish Academy)
• Roman de la Rose(Johns Hopkins)

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JISC e-content programme Strand A
Institutional Skills and Strategies

• Developing partnerships and collaborative models
  at regional or other levels, aimed at carrying
  out digitisation in a more cost effective way
• Capitalising on institutions own particular
  areas of expertise in different aspects of
  digitisation activity.

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Object-Centred Digitisation

• Initial assessment
• Condition report and condition rating
• Repair if necessary
• Handling training and assistance
• Boxing

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Centre of Competence for Heritage Digitisation

• Aim To establish whether there is demand for a
  regional Centre of Competence for Heritage
  Digitisation, embedded within the University of
  Manchester.

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Objectives

• Explore and test various business models and
  practices with external partners
• Achieve economies of scale by competitively
  marketing our services and expertise
• Develop a strategy for continuation and long-term
  sustainability of digitisation activities
• Define best-practice for object-centred
  digitisation
• Expand our existing on-line content by hosting
  related materials held by other institutions
• Fulfil JISC, Library and University strategic
  goals

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Service models

• Digitising external collections at the JRUL
• Digitising external collections in situ
• Digitising small numbers of images (e.g. one
  manuscript codex)
• Self-service scanning (Copibooks at Deansgate and
  Oxford Road sites)
• Metadata production
• Hosting external collections in our image
  management system (Luna Insight)
• Training partners to produce their own metadata
• Pre- and post-digitisation treatment assessments
  and services
• Options for preservation, including archive
  storage solutions for images
• Knowledge / service exchange with partners
• Funding bid collaboration
• Advisory service.

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Option to host digital content
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Project Partners

• Chethams Library
• Brotherton Library
• National Trust Historic House Libraries
• Manchester Museum
• YOU?

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Internships

• Photographer Conservator

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MBA Intern

• Analysis of test models
• Survey of potential customers and user
  requirements
• Feasibility study
• Business Plan

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• Collaboration
• the way forward?

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Thank you for your attention

• Carol Burrows
• The John Rylands University Library
• The University of Manchester
• Email carol.burrows_at_manchester.ac.uk
• Tel [phone]