Page Comparison

There is an existing digitization project funded by McArthur.

• Started 2 or 3 months ago. So far 100,000 pages scanned over 2 months.
• Uses ~5 workstations, with HP Scanjet G2710 connected to Windows PCs.
• Scanners are paid per page scanned.

Workflow:

• put materials on flatbed
• scan using Macromedia Fireworks using TWAIN standard capture.
• save original file as a Fireworks file
• do touch-ups (remove dirt, straighten)
• crop left and right pages
• save left and right pages as JPEGs at 600dpi (note: this appears to be upscaling the "preview scan" to 600 dpi, therefore not truly a 600 dpi scan).
• then compiled in Acrobat pro for a PDF
• a DVD is burned of the output PDF and given to the library staff
• other library staff then generate metadata for books based on what they see
• upload images to dspace (http://www.dspace.org/) for hosting

There is no existing digitization project at BUK.

• mixture of some type and hand generated documents.
• some letters, books, typed pages.
• some materials from people influential to Nigeria including Herbert Macaulay, Henry Carr, etc.
• material is brittle and exposed to moisture (rain) and humidity. No air conditioning.
• most material are in boxes, but some are stacked loosely.
• UI was the official national archive up until the 60s. Today it receives duplicates of content submitted to the National Archive.

• majority are hand written Arabic manuscripts on loose pages.
• very few typed pages. Example content: Native Assembly documents.
• metadata is unknown for many of the material.
• materials may have been acquired from households where content has been handed down through generations (possibly prone to neglect).
• material is extremely fragile and degraded (i.e. some pages with holes).
• BUK aims to expand its acquisition of materials in the next 6 months through partnerships with other institutions and by approaching locals.