It is a good thing that the cultural heritage sector has been in flux. The industry is roaring back to life after the COVID lockdown. Institutions are now looking to sustain and bolster digital programming. These include front-facing viewer engagement schemes, to simpler collections efforts, as well as sustaining and boosting their digital programming. The pandemic cast a long shadow on the industry, particularly in terms of funding. This means that smaller venues often have their own digital development.The Museum Learning Hub offers free and accessible training for museums that don't have the financial resources to hire consultants or other staff to assist them in digitization. The Digital Empowerment Project funded funding and the Institute of Museum and Library Services provided the funds for their June 2021 broadcast, Managing Digitization Projects.The workshop was made up of four parts and featured presentations from some of the most innovative minds in museum digitization, from Ann Stegina of Alaska's Anchorage Museum to Dr. Rhonda Jones, a well-known community digital archivist at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. The series concluded with June 29's presentation, Imaging Standards and Logistics in Digitization Projects, by Elizabeth Chiang (current staff photographer at George Eastman Museum). Chiang explained the basics of digitization in her workshop. She emphasized the importance of familiarizing viewers both with the terminology of museum photography and the best practices for such projects.These are the main takeaways from Chiangs Talk.Make the most of what you haveAlthough there are risks associated with using outdated or poor equipment, Chiang says that up-cycling is a great way of streamlining the digitization process. Chiang said that digitization isn't a new concept. This has been done in various ways by many institutions for decades. This means that legacy equipment can often be reused or traded in.Standards are not to be compromisedHowever, there are certain aspects that you should not ignore. The most important one is storage. Storage. Chiang stressed that storage is an important part of digitization. The cost of additional storage is not worth the long-term consequences of redoing the work.Chiang also stressed the importance of adhering, even if not always following, technical guidelines like the Federal Archives Digitization Guidelines Initiative. She stated that the standards are intended to provide consistency in image and master file curation. These standards are important because they establish trackable and easily achievable goals for imaging. However, many institutions will not be able to meet the four-star FADGI standards right away. Open DICE and Golden Thread are analysis tools that can verify master files are compliant. Quality control is especially important for grant-funded projects. Chiang said that these guidelines are not hard and fast rules and should be considered alongside other factors like cost, time and resources.These stories will be delivered directly to your inboxTo ensure longevity, use discernmentThe viability of digital files over the long-term is the most critical aspect of digitization. Museum workers need to balance best practices and the most practical approach. Chiang stated that object handling and understanding the balance between technical perfection and realistic goals are key aspects of digitization. To better understand your institution's needs, those with flat objects should get a scanner. Those with more complex objects might need an image capture. She suggested thinking about file types, such as TIFFs and JPEG 2000. This will help you to think critically about how these files can be used to support your digitization project goals.Chiang also emphasizes the importance of collaboration institutional spirit. Digitization projects bring together experts in all fields. The corroborative relationships are evident and the results are a testament to power within teamwork.
