Capture Your Collections

Planning and Implementing Digitization Projects

This online training course has been developed to address the needs of those working in or with museums embarking on a project to digitize images from their collections.

It was designed to take advantage of web technology and present material on digitization at various levels to meet the needs not only of those with a limited background in the use of cameras and computers but also those with more extensive expertise.

Move through the material at your own pace. You need not be an Internet expert, simple navigation is all that is required. The time required to complete the course is entirely up to you. Work at your own pace according to your own needs.

The training is presented in modules. The bars on the left of the screen, the Course Content, represent the course material presented in a logical order. We encourage you to go through it step by step, examining the material behind each icon one at a time. Start with the Introductory module. Once you've selected it, click on the main part of the screen and then print the screens for easier reading. You may choose to file what you've printed in a reference binder for future use. Reference the Recommended Reading attached to each module. Do the exercises for each section and work with the information you learn to implement processes within your institution.

When you're finished, continue on to the next module, and so on.

Make use of the "Resources" at the left of the screen. Relevant links provide you with access to more information at other web sites. Contact the instructors at any time with questions, concerns, etc. using the direct email link. Post questions to the bulletin board to get feedback from other museum professionals.

Your user id and password give you access to the online resources necessary for this course including:

• Recommended reading for each module
• Exercises for each module
• Extensive relevant Internet links
• A thorough (and regularly updated) annotated bibliography
• Digitization Guidelines for Managers
• An online bulletin board to which you can post questions or respond to those of others
• Email access to instructors

This document provides an overview of the key issues to consider when planning a digitization project, from the planning process through to implementing the project and maintaining your digital collections. It is intended as an introductory, reference source for senior managers.

This document is available as an online publication.