Actual content in a virtual world

Simon Wilson Mersey Gateway Project Manager

tel: 0151 233 5819email: simon.wilson@liverpool.gov.uk

www.mersey-gateway.org

what is digitisation?The process of creating a binary representation of an object (eg photo, book or manuscript etc) which can then be

- manipulated

- stored

- transmitted

- displayed

why digitise?• because we can?

• to enhance access – (eg 1901 census)

• conservation/preservation – (eg Beowolf @ British Library)

• to increase awareness & use– (eg Mersey Gateway)

• adding value– searching– create a virtual collection

how to digitise?

in-house or outsource?– scope and range of material to be digitised

• flatbed scanner or overhead camera

– existing skills and experience– IT support– timescales – budget

a showcase of material held

in libraries, archives and

museums across the region

relating to Liverpool and

Merseyside

The project would not have been possible without the support of our partners: Halton Borough Council; Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley; Metropolitan Borough of St Helens; Metropolitan Borough of Sefton; Warrington Borough Council; Metropolitan Borough of Wirral; Cheshire and Chester Archives and Local Studies Service; Lancashire Record Office; National Museums Liverpool; University of Liverpool; North West Sound Archive, Salt Museum Northwich and the Catalyst Museum.

www.mersey-gateway.org

the story of the port, the city and the region is told through hundreds of stories and thousands of

images looking at specific people, places, buildings and events

the ideal scenario...– someone with a basic interest in a subject reads a story or looks at a

few of the images – after 5 minutes says “I didn’t know that ….”

• informal learning, likely to tell others about the site and pass the

knowledge on

– lifelong learners not academics/professionals

encouraging access & use

as a starting point – further reading and web links– partner library/archive/museum references given

» encourage users to view the original items– general guides to using a range of resources

• maps, street directories, newspapers etc

list of themes & topics on the site

search and

browse the site

guides to using

archiveslinks to stories - changes each

time you visit the site

stories

the site features hundreds of stories with links to find out more about a particular place, person, building, vessel or event

wherever possible a story will include

links to related stories or galleries

how has it been built...

managed via a Content Management System

• stories & images

• On This Day

• multiple-choice quizzes

• feedback forms

• link library

• gallery feature

how has it been built...

Metadata

• ‘data about data’

• Dublin Core at the heart of the CMS

• simply select from an editable list of terms

• much of it is done as part of the batch upload process

search & browse- free-text

- by historical period [e.g. 19th Century]

- by areas of interest [ships & shipping]

- by type of person [engineers]

- by collection type [prints & drawings] - by location (of the item) [Central Library]

or a combination of all of the above

one search- finds all (hopefully)

• stories• individual images• image galleries• archive collections• quizzes

• zoom tool - allows you to explore an image in more detail

•avoid using ‘pop-up’ boxes - accessibility

not just the ‘treasures’

GOOD PEOPLE,

BAD IDEAS AND THE

UGLY CLUB

Liverpool Overhead Railway

impact...• site launched in Sept 2003 as part of

Archives Awareness month• since then thousands more images

have been added

• website usage (since Sept 2003)– more than 28,000 ‘visits’ – 450,000 ‘page views’– 2m ‘hits’

• impact on partners?