Digital Library Projects at Brown
Some Frequently Asked Questions
- How does the Brown University Library define a digital project?
- What kind of materials go into digital projects?
- Why should I consider a digital project?
- Who works on digital projects -- Who has what responsibility
- What about standards?
- What kinds of services can the library provide?
- How is all this work supported
- I have a project in mind, where do I begin?
- How does the Brown University Library define a digital project?"
A digital project is first of all a project: it has a beginning and an end (however far in the future that end may be). It has a clearly articulated goal, the progress of which can be tracked from the beginning through the various stages of the project to its completion. Projects may be free-standing, or be self-contained components of a larger project.
Through the combined results of both library-generated collections (signature collections) and faculty sponsored projects, the Library proposes to build a digital collection of enduring quality in support of the University's teaching and research missions.
- What kind of materials go into digital projects?
Library digital projects are based on complete, intellectually cohesive bodies of material.
Digital projects may be based on:
- Library owned materials
- Purchased (or, in some cases, leased) resources
- University/faculty owned materials, when the Library is the custodian of the resulting digital object
- Consortial efforts, including any of the above, with the Library as either custodian or contributor of the resulting digital object
- A combination of the above
In general, projects will involve resources that are free of copyright restrictions, or for which copyright and distribution permissions can be easily obtained.
- Why would I consider a digital project?
Library digital projects add value to the original object in a variety of ways. This may be by providing:
- Surrogates of fragile and rare materials
- Broad dissemination of scarce and/or high-demand items
- Enhanced access, through search and browse capabilities, and through format-based tools
- Enhanced intellectual context, through association with similar materials in a project, or by association with similar materials in other digital projects
- Scholarly context, through subject specialist/faculty provided supportive and introductory materials
- Who works on digital projects -- Who has what responsibility?
Digital projects at Brown University Library are collaborative efforts, drawing on the experise to faculty and staff from within and without the library. A staff member in Scholarly Resources works with the participating faculty member (the project sponsor) and staff of the Digital Services Department to shape and shepherd the proejct. We refer to this librarian as the project owner. Specialists from throughout the library (and other campus units as needed), including specialists in preservation, metadata, digital imaging/transfer, text encoding, database design, and XML programming may be assigned various responsibilities as members of a project team.
- What about standards?
Library digital projects are based on current or emerging standards and best practices in areas such as imaging and digital transfer, text encoding, markup languages, web accessibility and interface design. Adherence to standards and best practices facilitates:
- Long-term usability of the digital object
- Compatibility with projects of consortial partners and peer institutions
- Migration of digital objects/data to successor technologies
- What kinds of services can the library provide?
- Digitization of most formats, including audio, video, print, image and slides.
- Provision of enhanced access to your objects through the creation of rich metadata records.
- Creation of class logins and folders in Luna Insight (image collections).
- Production (in conjunction with CIS) of audio reserve materials using Brown EARS.
- Encoding of textual objects using the Text Encoding Intiative.
- Repository services for faculty and departmental digital objects.
- Consultative services related to any of the above.
- How is all this work supported?
Library digital projects are staffed and supported in a variety of ways. It is expected that more than one source of support will be required for most digital projects.
- Library budgeted and otherwise funded staffing and operating support for the Digital Services Department.
- Collaborative, project-based staffing and support from other Service Groups
- University/faculty support project-based support, in the form of direct funding, student hours, proctorships, services, and the like.
- External funding, through grants or other sources, including consortial agreements
- I have a project in mind, where do I begin?
The best place to begin is with the librarian assigned to your department.
He or she will be able to help you begin shaping your ideas into a project proposal, and will work with staff in Digital Services to assess your project and our ability to support it. While we would love to accept all project proposals we can't, and we will evaluate each proposal with regard to potential success and impact, funding, and our current committments.