Presented at DRI Members Forum, 6th March 2019. This presentation gives an overview of the basics of digital archiving, covering the archival preparation of materials and advice about digitisation.
2. In this presentation
1. How DRI collections are structured
2. Ingest options
3. Admin roles and user access
4. Digitisation basics
3. DRI collection structure
● In the DRI, collections are
made up of digital objects.
● An object is a metadata file and asset(s)
● Objects can only be published within
collections.
● All collections are published by
a Depositing Organisation.
4. Creating your collection
● Every object must be part of a collection - it’s up to you how you divide your
objects. Collections can also be divided into sub-collections.
● Collections are required whether you use Dublin Core, MODS, EAD or
MARC.
● Collection metadata is similar to object metadata – title, date, creator,
description, subjects etc.
● Collections require a cover image that represents the collection.
● Collections can be used to designate particular access permissions or
licences for objects.
5. Archival levels of arrangement
• Fonds
• Sub fonds
• Series
• Sub-series
• File
• Item
6. Archival levels of arrangement
• Fonds
• Sub fonds
• Series
• Sub-series
• File
• Item
7. Archival levels of arrangement
• Fonds (collections)
• Sub fonds (collections or sub-collections)
• Series (collections or sub-collections)
• Sub-series (collections or sub-collections)
• File (collections or sub-collections)
Items (objects)
8. DRI Collection Structure
● The DRI offers flexible organisation of your material
● If in doubt – start simple: self contained, single level collections are the
easiest to prepare.
13. Access Controls
● DRI lets you decide who can access
your materials, and in what quality
they are available for download.
14. Digitisation basics:
• What is being digitised?
• What is not being digitised?
• Why?
• Digitisation resources: https://www.dri.ie/digitisation-
resources-0
15. Seven Principles of digitisation (JISC)
• Capture at the best quality possible
• Collect required technical metadata
• Archive ‘original’ capture files
• Re-master only copies
• Archive re-mastered generation
• Create access generation versions for delivery
• Use open formats, avoid proprietary formats
16. Seven Principles of digitisation (JISC)
• Capture at the best quality possible
• Collect required technical metadata
• Archive ‘original’ capture files
• Re-master only copies
• Archive re-mastered generation
• Create access generation versions for delivery
• Use open formats, avoid proprietary formats
17. Seven Principles of digitisation (JISC)
• Archive ‘original’ capture files
• Re-master only copies
• Archive re-mastered generation
• Create access generation versions for delivery
18. Seven Principles of digitisation (JISC)
• Archive ‘original’ capture files
• Re-master only copies
• Archive re-mastered generation
• Create access generation versions for delivery
Performed as part of preservation in DRI
Traditional archival arrangement can be quite hierarchical….
Fonds all items associated with a creator (could be an institution)
Sub f – administrative sub unit of org
Series – same function or activity
And so forth
This is great if you have that level of organisation present within your records. But many don’t. The DRI allows you to organise however suits you.
If you are just ingesting single objects, it might be most convenient to use the form - screencast
Available in your workspace – allows you to stage the ingest of XML documents containing your metadata.
DRI also offers templates and training to help you convert you csv files to XML.