Digitization Toolkit
The Canadian Heritage Information Network has compiled several resources to help heritage institutions carry out digitization activities according to best practices and standards. Contents of the toolkit include frameworks to develop digitization policies and plans, technical guides to provide detailed information on digitization procedures, and a file size estimator spreadsheet to help estimate the required storage capacity for various types of digitized media.
How to Use the Digitization Toolkit
This publication describes the resources contained in the toolkit and how to use them.
Digitization Policy Framework
This framework helps you produce a digitization policy for your cultural heritage institution. A digitization policy is a high-level document that outlines what objects should be digitized, according to what standards and for what purpose. A policy also addresses who should have access to the digitized materials and under what conditions. Finally, it provides guidance on the development of a digitization plan by defining broad requirements for the plan.
Digitization Plan Framework
This framework helps you develop a digitization plan for your cultural heritage institution. A digitization plan provides detailed answers to questions such as who will digitize objects, when will objects be digitized, what training or information is necessary, what equipment and software will be used, what digitization procedures will be followed, and how will digitized materials be cleaned up, documented, preserved and published. A plan also focuses on funding and other management decisions, such as whether to contract work out, do it in-house or use a hybrid solution.
Capture Your Collections: A Guide for Managers Who Are Planning and Implementing Digitization Projects
This revised publication is designed to guide museum managers through the planning and implementation of a digitization project. It covers issues such as evaluating what should be digitized, identifying the necessary resources and skills and assigning tasks. It also covers issues related to copyright, cost management, hardware and software selection, digitization standards, workflow and digital preservation planning. While this document predates the Digitization Policy Framework and the Digitization Plan Framework, it complements them and should be used in conjunction with them.
Capture Your Collections 2012 - Small Museum Version
This updated version for small museums of the “Capture Your Collections” online course has been specially designed to help volunteers, curators and managers working in regional, local and specialist museums to better manage the process of image digitization. Use this document (along with the Digitization Plan Framework) when developing a digitization plan for a smaller institution.
Still Image File Size Estimator Tool (Excel workbook)
This Excel workbook helps you determine the storage space requirements for images produced by scanning reflective and transparent still images. Up to 30 different forms of media can be selected, and calculations for file sizes incorporate image specifications recommended by the Federal Agencies Digital Guidelines Initiative (FADGI) in Technical Guidelines for Digitizing Cultural Heritage Materials (PDF format). The tool can be downloaded and modified, as required.
How to Scan Reflective Objects Using a Flatbed Scanner
This guide contains technical information on how to digitize reflective objects (such as paper documents) using a flatbed scanner. Standards followed in this document are based on the FADGI Technical Guidelines for Digitizing Cultural Heritage Materials (PDF format).
How to Scan Photographic Transparencies and Photographic Negatives – Supplement
This guide contains technical information on how to digitize transparencies (such as slides and negatives) using a flatbed scanner or a slide scanner. Standards followed in this document are based on the FADGI Technical Guidelines for Digitizing Cultural Heritage Materials (PDF format).
A Museum’s How-to Guide for Digitizing Audio
This guide is primarily intended for Canadian museum professionals but may be valuable to anyone wishing to undertake a process of digitizing cultural heritage audio. It provides hands-on examples of how to convert analog electronic audio to a digital format by using budget-conscious equipment and open-source software in a Windows PC operating environment.