Digitisation is the process of converting a physical object like a book, newspaper, photograph or sound recording into a computer file. Methods of digitising objects include scanning and digital photography.
The benefits of digitisation
Digitising physical objects has a number of benefits, including:
- Improving access. Digitised items which are available on the internet can be accessed anywhere at any time.
- Assisting research. For example, by making the text in magazines and newspapers searchable, researchers can quickly identify sections of interest without having to browse through every issue.
- Preserving items. Digitisation means that original material may not have to be used as often by researchers. It is also an effective means of preserving sound recordings.
Standards for digitising heritage collections
The National Library follows international standards and best practice for its digitisation projects.
Our Draft Digitisation Guidelines include information about image capture devices (for example scanners), metadata, recommended specifications for image files and an image quality control checklist.
Download the Draft Digitisation Guidelines
We also provide guidelines on the care and handling of Library collections during copying processes, including digital copying.
Download the Copying Guidelines
The International Association of Sound and Audio Archives (IASA) have produced guidelines for the production and preservation of digital audio object. These can be ordered from the IASA website.
Copyright
Copyright clearance may need to be obtained from the object’s owner or creator before it can be digitised and/or made available.
The Ministry for Economic Development website provides general information about copyright law in New Zealand.
Information about copyright - Ministry for Economic Development (MED) website
The National Digital Forum
The National Digital Forum (NDF) is a group of organisations with an interest in digitisation. NDF partners include libraries, museums, archives, universities, government departments and other institutions.
NDF activities include:
- An annual conference that provides professional development and networking opportunities for people interested in digitisation
- A website with information about digitisation polices, standards and guidelines.
- The Register of Digitisation Initiatives, a database of digitisation projects in New Zealand.
National Digital Forum website
Digitisation at the National Library
The Library has digitised a range of historical materials including:
- photographs (prints and negatives)
- prints and drawings
- maps
- cartoons
- newspapers
- magazines and journals
- children's books
- sound and audio recordings.
We digitise objects in response to Library users’ requests (for example, photographs to appear in publications) and in accordance with our digitisation programmes, which have produced online resources such as Te Ao Hou and the Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand 1868-1961.
Hardware and software
The Library uses a suite of scanning and digitisation equipment that includes:
- Betterlight scan back
- Heidelberg Nexscan 4100
- Fuji Lanovia Quattro
- Nikon Coolscan
- AudioCube sound workstations.
We use predominantly Adobe PhotoShop software for pictorial works, Quadriga for audio and other software (ScanFlo) for microfilm scanning.
