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Digitization Stories #1: Historic State Codes at the University of Georgia

    I recently spoke with Sharon Bradley, Special Collections Librarian at the University of Georgia School of Law, about her participation in the LYRASIS Digitization Collaborative, and their contribution of historic Georgia code volumes.

    LIPA: How did the idea for this project come about?

    Bradley: This project was generated by the library. As so many projects start, it was a way to reduce work involved in answering repeated patron requests. Also, every request for copies of pages from fragile historic volumes added to their deteriorating condition. Now, we just send a link.

    Bradley explained that the larger project was coordinated by LYRASIS, a non-profit that partners with its member institutions to build and care for digital collections. They provide training, expertise and collaboration on building projects, and hosting, and other technology support.


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    Historic Georgia Digests and Codes on Digital Commons @ Georgia Law


    LIPA: How did you handle staffing and funding for the project?

    Bradley: The staffing was me, preparing the paperwork and packing the items to send to LYRASIS. The library absorbed the cost. Worth every penny not only for any saving the library realized, but it’s been a great PR tool.

    Bradley noted several advantages of partnering with LYRASIS on the project, including that the material is available now on the Internet Archive as well as their Digital Commons site. Also the work was done offsite by professionals that did a great job scanning. “We could not have produced the same quality without a big financial investment in staff, hardware, and software.”

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    LIPA: Is there anything you’d like to tell other LIPA members who may be considering digitization, about your experience?

    Bradley: No digitization project will be a waste of time or money. While the origin of the quote is in dispute, it seems relevant, “If not us, who? If not now, when?”  I really believe we all have to start today.

    Many thanks to Sharon Bradley for her work on this project, and for being willing to share her experiences with us in our first LIPA Digitization Story!

     
     
     

    Funding Sources for Library Digitization

      In the current budget climate, the subject of grant funding is vital to conversations about digitization.  If you’re considering a digitization project, even on a small scale, you might wonder what sorts of funds are available for your project.

      If you’re considering a project that helps to engage the public with the law and you have an enterprising person or team of people who need some time to work on the early stages of a project, consider the Knight Foundation. Their Prototype Fund provides $35,000 to innovators, and gives them six months to research and test before building out their full project.  They have funded projects to distribute audio for state legislative sessions, state code and other legal texts, and several projects that promote citizen access to and engagement with government.  Their next deadline for submission is November 16, 2015.  http://www.knightfoundation.org/what-we-fund/.

      The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has a Scholarly Communications and Information Technology program, and funds on many levels, up to millions and down to the tens of thousands. The Mellon Foundation’s broader program in Higher Education and Scholarship in the Humanities may also be of interest to librarians seeking support for digitization.  See, e.g., https://mellon.org/programs/higher-education-and-scholarship-humanities/.

      The FDLP’s Digitization Projects Registry also lists several agencies that provide grant opportunities, including the IMLS, NEH, and NSF. http://registry.fdlp.gov/legal-a-regulatory.

      The NEH has many funding opportunities, including for smaller institutions: http://www.neh.gov/grants/preservation/preservation-assistance-grants-smaller-institutions.

      Other funding sources include:

      1. ALA Grants http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/awards/browse/grnt?showfilter=no

      2. IMLS Grants https://www.imls.gov/grants/apply-grant/available-grants

      3. IMLS Grants to States: https://www.imls.gov/grants/apply-grant/available-grants “largest source of federal funding support for library services in the U.S.” LSTA Grants – check at state level (e.g., California http://www.library.ca.gov/grants/lsta/apply.html)

      4. NEH Preservation Grants http://www.neh.gov/grants

      5. NHPRC Digital Dissemination of Archival Collections Grant (National Historic and Public Records Commission) http://www.archives.gov/nhprc/announcement/digital.html

      6. See also: http://www.clir.org/hiddencollections/applicants/related-grant-programs

       
       
       

      Standards and Practices Update

        Looking for the latest information on digital preservation standards? See this update from the National Digital Stewardship Alliance Standards and Practices Working Group:

        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Margaret K. Maes Executive Director Legal Information Preservation Alliance P. O. Box 5266 Bloomington, IN 47407 Phone: 812-822-2773 mailto:mkmaes@gmail.com http://lipalliance.org/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

         
         
         
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