Course Description

Digital Projects Toolkit Part 3: Scanning is the third in a series of five short courses introducing the basics of cultural heritage digitization projects. This section includes tips for working with digitization vendors and selecting equipment as well as standards and best practices for scanning historical materials in-house.

This series was created by Recollection Wisconsin to help public library systems provide basic digitization education and support to their members. Course development was funded by the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC). Support for Recollection Wisconsin is provided in part by a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Recollection Wisconsin Program Manager, WiLS

Emily Pfotenhauer

Course curriculum

  • 1

    1. Course Materials

    • 1a. How to Navigate

    • 1b. Resource List and Slides
  • 2

    2. Scanning: Do-It-Yourself or Outsource?

    • 2a. Decisions, decisions: Vendors, equipment, etc.

    • 2b. Tip Sheet: Working with a Vendor
  • 3

    3. Scanning Standards and Best Practices

    • 3a. Scanning Basics

    • 3b. Infographic: Scanning Photographs

    • 3c. Video tutorial: Scanning Historic Photos

    • 3d. Scanning Photographs: Step-By-Step Guide (Powerhouse Museum)

    • 3e. Digitization Best Practices: Starting with Standards (Jesse Henderson, UWDCC)

    • 3f. Quality Control Checklists (Sustainable Heritage Network)

    • 3g. Processing Scanned Images Using Photoshop (Sustainable Heritage Network)
  • 4

    4. Feedback

    • Give feedback on "Digital Projects Toolkit Part 3: Scanning"