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Re: Accessing digitized microfilm



Slight addition/correction to my previous message:

I think something like a page turner could possibly be a good idea, even
in some cases when finding aids describe and point to specific items,
since items are often composed of multiple page images.  If an item is a
300-page manuscript, for example, the user will need some way of moving
around within that document once she's followed the link from a finding
aid.

The idea is just to store a very minimal set of metadata elements for
those images that are part of a larger item (e.g. pages of a
manuscript).  It think the choice about whether or not to use this
approach could be largely based on what proportion of the materials will
have:

1) multiple images for an individual item, and
2) no OCR or keying in of text, so that full-text search and retrieval
won't be possible.

It's quite feasible to use the page turner interface for only part of
the materials (as is done on American Memory).  But it may not be worth
implementing if it only represents a tiny portion of the materials.
American Memory gets around this by providing full text search and
browsing (looking a lot like Yahoo!) and then placing a little red
cross-out symbol next to those collections that aren't full-text
searchable.  Of course, the interface would be a bit different if it's
based on EAD finding aids, but I think the principle could be the same.

The American Memory documentation identifies 8 metadata elements for
each image:
- title
- aggregate
- item
- ref-image
- prntno (print number)
- ctrlno (control number)
- feature
- full-sized

When taking a similar approach, specifying the "aggregates" is probably
important.  According to LC, an aggregate is "material of the same
original format that belongs to the same American Memory collection.
Many collections consist of a single aggregate."  It seems at least
possible to use the aggregate element to point out to a collection,
series, folders, box or some other level of description within an
archival finding aid.

Another interface option quite similar to the American Memory page
turner, but based on documents for which there is OCR of the text is
JSTOR:
http://www.jstor.org/demo/

I think the "scent" (indication of where you are and where you should
click next) that's provided at the top of a page on that interface is
quite useful.

The Making of America site:
http://moa.umdl.umich.edu/
also has something like it.  But I think it could possibly be improved a
little if it provided a bit more indication of what the publication or
collection is or how to get back out of the document once the user has
jumped into it.

A bit more armchair speculation and brainstorming.

=======================================================
Cal Lee
Electronic Records Project Archivist
Kansas State Historical Society
Phone: 785-272-8681, ext. 280         Fax: 785-272-8682
http://da.state.ks.us/itab/erc/
http://www.kshs.org/archives/recmgt.htm
                  "Obsolete power corrupts obsoletely."
                                           - Ted Nelson

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