Transcript Digitization of library collection in developing countries: the Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library’s experience By Jagboro, K.

Digitization of library collection in developing
countries: the Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library’s
experience
By
Jagboro, K. O. ([email protected])
Omotayo,B.O. ([email protected])
Aboyade, W. A. ([email protected])
Introduction
Business Dictionary.com (2009) defines
digitization as conversion of analog information
in any form (text, photographs, voice, etc.) to
digital form with suitable electronic devices
Reasons for digitization
Wider access
Prevention of theft of library materials
Preservation
Obafemi Awolowo University experience
Historical background
OAU was founded in 1962
Digitization started in 2003
Carnegie grants of ($220,000) was used for
conversion of manual catalogue to electronic
format
Purchase of equipment for digitization of
newspapers
On going digitization projects include:
Digitization of Nigerian Newspapers;
Digitization of abstracts of Masters and
doctoral theses
Yet to be attended to is the Manuscripts of court
cases
Before Digitization started, it was manual
processing of newspaper clippings, and
microfilming of pre 1986 copies
Problems arising from manual system include:
space constraints, limited access and heavy
usage of the indexed newspapers
Digitization of newspaper collection
National newspapers involved include: Daily
Times; National Concord; Daily Sketch (all now
out of circulation); the Comet (now the Nation;
the Guardian; Nigerian Tribune; the Punch, and
Vanguard.
These newspapers were digitized from 1986 to
2006.
It is a complete digitization.
Hardware used include: SMA 2 scanner; an
Internet ready computer; CD/DVD writer for the
backup
Digitization process:
Scanning (double page)
Each page is stored in JPEG format
Files saved into hard disks (for local access) and
burnt to DVD/CDs as backup
Problems include:
Inadequate storage media e.g. hard disk
Compression of the large file size
Indexing; and
Content management software
Facing the challenges
Commissioning of an in-house software
engineer to develop a software for content
management and compression of the large file
size.
A 60% compression result was achieved
Software still at the developmental stage.
Digitization of abstract of theses
Only the abstracts of theses of OAU.
The University is participating in the DATAD
project (The database of African theses and
dissertations)
Sponsored by Carnegie Corporation of New
York, the Rockefeller Foundation and the
Association of African Universities (AAU).
Started in 2004
Equipment supplied by the AAU
Training sessions were conducted for some
members of staff.
Equipment and process
2 PCs; 1 flatbed scanner, 1 printer
The software include Omnipage 14 Pro and
Procite
The Omnipage converts the JPEG image to
OCR and saved as Ms-Word document.
It is then transferred into Procite software with
the following data items like: the supervisor,
degree obtained, the university’s name,
keywords for search, etc.
Written to CD/DVD and then sent to the AAU,
DATAD unit for uploading.
A copy is retained for our users’ online access.
Copyright
The concept of fair use applies but not to the
detriment of authors’ moral and economic
rights.
The materials digitized are essentially for
research and learning purpose.
Students on submission of their projects give
a written permission to the University for the
use of their theses for research and learning
Challenges
Inadequate funding
Electricity and power supply
Storage media for digital information
Scanning of brittle old newspapers and courts
manuscripts.
National infrastructures (laying of fibre optics
cable nationally)
Capacity building for staff (training and retraining)
Conclusion
There is need for collaboration among the
libraries in the developing countries and the
donor agencies (both national and international)
as exemplified by OAU and Carnegie
Corporation of New York.
Training and re-training of staff should be
accorded priority.
Library management need to lay much
emphases on computerization and digitization.
Picture 1: Main entrance/front view of Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library
Picture 2: Copies of newspaper clippings mounted on paper arranged in files
Picture 3: Manuscript of Customary Court judgement
Picture 4: Newspaper clippings arranged in files and cartons
Picture 5: Manuscript of the customary court judgement arranged on shelves
Picture 6: SMA 2 scanner used for the scanning of newspapers
Picture 7: An officer working on SMA 2 scanner to scan newspapers
Picture 8: Conservation room where newspapers are kept in cartons and then shelved
Picture 9: Digitization of abstract of Masters and doctoral theses of OAU
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