JISC

This whole report might be regarded as a set of recommendations for the proposed project (especially Recommended strategies,  Digital datasets and Project workflow), so this final section will not reiterate everything previously presented. However some general conclusions and recommendations can be usefully made.

• The scoping study has confirmed that the proposed project is viable, could be managed within the allotted timescale (2 years, from January 2007-December 2008), and would be extensible.
• Although the study has not addressed every single aspect of the project, it has covered much ground and provided a good base from which to build a full and detailed Project Plan.
• All of the deliverables promised in the scoping study plan (see Summary of scoping study findings) have been achieved and are included within this report, along with much additional information.
• Some information gathered in the process of the study has not been included in this report for reasons of confidentiality (e.g. costs and contractual agreements). Much of this information has been provided in the revised bid and it will be important in preparing the detailed Project Plan and developing Memoranda of Understanding should the project go ahead.
• In addition to providing much information, the scoping study has been important in establishing relationships between partners (e.g. BOPCRIS and JSTOR), which would stand the project in good stead if it proceeds.
• The proposed project has many complexities and the scoping study activities have proved valuable in addressing many of these (e.g. image capture and OCR standards, approach to de-duplication). It is recommended that that scoping studies such as this are undertaken for all large digitisation projects of this nature, especially where multiple partners are involved .
• While the study has been able to provide a better base to certain assumptions (e.g. page averages), some information can only be fully established in practice. If the project proceeds, it would be able to test some of the findings and assumptions made here, and to evaluate the chosen methodologies. It is recommended that the 19th Century Pamphlets Online project, should it proceed, evaluate the findings and approaches chosen in this study in light of the practical reality of the project, and disseminate its findings.
• Although the scoping study and this report have focused on a particular project, some of its findings and approaches are expected to be of wider interest and value. For example, we now have a clearer understanding of the condition of 19th century pamphlet collections – and of the challenges involved in digitising them. It is recommended that this report should be made available to others undertaking similar work.

Additional information sources and support services

JISC Collections provides a multitude of examples of good ways to deliver digital content.

AHDS provides services to aid the creation, use and preservation of digital collections in the arts and humanities and is partially funded by JISC.

BUFVC (The British Universities Film and Video Council) promotes the use of moving image and audio resources and provides very useful information regarding digitisation from these formats. Partially funded by JISC.

Digital Curation Centre provide a national focus for research into curation issues and to promote expertise and good practice, both national and international, for the management of all research outputs in digital format. Partially funded by JISC.

Digital Preservation Coalition fosters joint action on preservation of digital resources in the UK to secure our global digital memory and knowledge base. 

HEDS Digitisation Services provides papers and advice on planning and costing digitisation projects along with a complete digitisation service.  

JISC Legal provides legal resources for further and higher education and their website is an excellent starting point for information on copyright and intellectual property and is funded by JISC.

TASI provides advice and guidance on the management of digitisation projects and creating, delivering and using digital images across all subject areas and is funded by JISC. 

TechDis provides an advice and information resource via extensive web-based databases and an email helpdesk. These resources should be the first port of call for anyone in education who has a question relating to disability and technology. Funded by JISC. 

UKOLN provides information and standards on how resources can interoperate and automated tools for testing website accessibility. Partially funded by JISC.

Appendix A – Survey sheet

The table below reproduces the printed survey sheet used in the collection assessment surveys described in Collection surveys. An Excel spreadsheet was also provided and used in the submission and analysis of results.