Reel Digitization
Bentley Project
t
Bentley Historical
Library
Melissa Hernández Durán
MAA 2013
June 21, 2013
Selection of Audio Materials
• 14,312 audio recordings
• Formats include reels, discs, wire recordings,
cylinders, and cassette tapes
• Selection of recordings that document the history of
the state of Michigan and the University of
Michigan.
• 2012 – Selection & Prioritization
Selection of Audio Materials
• 834 cassette tapes
• 1,650 reel-to-reel
tapes
• Radio broadcasts, speeches, oral histories, lectures,
musical performances, interviews, religious and
conference recordings.
Metadata Collection
• Collect
Metadata
o Descriptive
o Technical/ Preservation
Metadata
• Project Tracking
o
o
o
o
Work Record
Shipping Date
Vendor digitizing
Digitization status: in
process, completed,
shipped, returned
DB
Digitization Phase
• Outsourcing
o Number of audio materials
o Availability of equipment to
play cassette and reels
o Time required
o Expertise in audio engineering
and formats
• Outsourcing
• Period of 2 years
o
o
o
o
Digitization
Quality control
ingest
description
• 4 shipments
Digitization Specifications
• DLPS
o Digital Library Production
Service at University of
Michigan’s Library
• Sound Directions
o Best Practices on Audio
Preservation 2007
• Preservation and
production files
• Access File
• Audio Metadata
Requirements
o Broadcast Wave Format
Metadata
o METS file
o Notes.txt file
• Image Files
Workflow
Selection of
tapes
Digitization by vendor
Metadata collection
Post-digitization Phase
Ingest
Quality Control
Access
Storage & Ingest
• Files received
• Files copied onto local
storage for processing
o Processing Directory
• Automated qc
• Manual qc
• Local storage
o Network Attached Storage
(NAS)
• UM ITS
o Replicated Value Storage
• Ingest into institutional
repository
Quality Control
• Files received from vendor meet internal and
archival standards
• 2 stages - automated and manual inspection of files
• Open Source and internally developed software
o JHOVE
o Scripts
o Database
Automated Validation
• Bentley Audio File
Validator
o Batch processes files
o Results can be exported to
database
o Evaluation of:
• File Structure
• File Naming Conventions
• Directory Structure
• Embedded & external
metadata - exists & is well
formed
• Checksums match
• File Format
• File Quality
Manual Validation
Access
• Delivering Content to
researchers
o Evaluate Rights & Permissions
• Copyright status unknown or
restricted
o Technical aspects
• Storage & delivery
mechanisms
• Restricted to local access
through IP address
o Reading room only
o Secure workstations
o No uploading, download, or file
sharing
Project Challenges &
Lessons Learned
• Storage – big investment
• Rights status resulting in restrictions to access
• Importance of communications with vendor &
documenting decisions
• Partnering – ex. Storage with ITS
• Learning from other institutions’ projects
Resources Used
• FADGI Digitization Activities http://www.digitizationguidelines.gov/guidelines/DigActi
vities-FADGI-v1-20091104.pdf
• Sound Directions http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/projects/sounddirections/
• CDP Digital Audio Working Group - Digital Audio Best
Practices http://www.mndigital.org/digitizing/standards/audio.pdf
• MLibrary DLPS Request for Proposals
http://www.lib.umich.edu/files/services/dlps/Audio_RFP.
pdf