Basic Digitization for Public Libraries

The purpose of this session is to demonstrate basic digitization tips for print materials and VHS tapes to increase their public accessibility. The goal of the project at the center of this presentation was to digitize public photos, documents, and records at minimal cost and to create a searchable database that can be linked to a library’s website. The tools used here were relatively low cost (access to google drive/sheets/forms, VHS to mp4 converter, document scanner, external hard drive) and easy to teach new users. Our staff was comprised of student workers and administrative assistants who spent 10 hours per week over the course of nine months, the director, and one professional librarian. While this was an academic project, this presentation will explain how it could be adapted to public libraries with minimal changes and could work well to promote local history collections/offerings. As more libraries are moving to RFID and more tasks become automated, projects like this can provide offer a way to engage staff with a project that has tangible results and that can make increase access to library materials for patrons both in person and remotely. This project was made possible by grant funds provided by City University of New York’s Black, Race, and Ethnic Studies Initiative (BRESI) grant program.