WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

VIRTUAL MOTOR CITY COLLECTION
DIGITIZATION DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
PRELIMINARY TIMELINE, REPORT TO DALNET

Rev. 6/3/02

I. Project Design - May 2002 to June 2002

  • Define goals and objectives for the demonstration project.
  • Clarify roles and responsibilities related to the demonstration project, which will result in the development of a service-level agreement between WSULS and the Reuther Library.
  • Assess restrictions and/or copyright issues related to collection.
  • Prepare budget and timeline for project based on the grant received.
  • Assign staff and/or select outsourcing for tasks associated with project, as necessary.
  • Select a subset of the collection to include in the demonstration project (based on project goals, readiness, physical condition of items, etc.).
  • Select and document standards, guidelines, and best practices that will be used during the project, including technology and equipment that will be used; types of file formats for capture, archiving, and presentation; custodial storage assessments and decisions; metadata elements, encoding and input; vocabulary to be used, etc.
  • Prepare digitization instruction sheets and provide staff training.
II. Project Implementation – July 2002 to August 2002
  • Begin to digitize selected portion of collection and develop metadata:
    - Prepare subset of collection for digitization.
    - Determine scheme for file name assignment.
    - Develop workflow plan for digitization and transmittal of files to WSULS.
    - Begin and complete digitization of selected subset of collection.
    - Begin research to enter and/or enrich existing metadata in FilemakerPro database.
  • Begin work on Web site design and content (e.g. help pages, introductory text, etc.) with input from all project-associated parties and create an alpha test site for the project
  • Select and/or begin developing database conversion programs, indexes, and search interface.
  • Begin cataloging and indexing the images using appropriate metadata and indexing standards.
  • Identify/implement best method of integration with existing Horizon database(s).
  • Hold regular meetings with project-associated parties to assess completion of tasks and prepare progress reports for DALNET (June 30, and September 30, 2002).
  • Begin public relations activities and promote the collection's pending production date.
  • Create beta version of Web site and test.
  • Obtain approval from all project-associated parties to move Web site to production.
  • Put Web site into production as an ongoing "pilot project" in September 2002, establishing links from WSULS's Web site.
III. Post-Implementation - September 2002 to January 2003
  • Continue public relations activities.
  • Continue digitization, metadata development, cataloging, indexing, and refining Web site until selected subset of collection is finished and Web site moves into production from its "pilot project" state, by or before December 2002.
  • Evaluate project using questionnaires, surveys, and group meetings.
  • Begin to collect monthly statistics on Web site's/database's usage for ongoing evaluation.
  • Explore continued funding options, and review options for continuing to add content to the digital collection.
  • Write final report for DALNET by January 31, 2003.

Submitted by A. Lim