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G2S Project Code: 2019-PA-83101
State: Pennsylvania
Fiscal Year: 2019
Grantee
Pennsylvania Office of Commonwealth Libraries

Project Director
Director Name: Sarah Greene
Director Phone: 717-783-5968
Director Email: saragreene@pa.gov
General Information
Title: Digitization of Pennsylvania Resources
State Project Code:
Start Date: 10/01/2019
End Date: 09/30/2020
Abstract: This statewide project made rare, historic printed books, archives and manuscripts, and other unique collections available to students, scholarly researchers, and Pennsylvania residents through digitization of the State Library of Pennsylvania's collections.  The digitized materials were then indexed and uploaded to a digital content management system that is freely accessible and downloadable around the world.

State Goal: Digital Library Services
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$89,573.76
$0.00
$0.00
$89,573.76
Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.
Government
History
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Scanning of State Library Materials
Narrative:

Working with Internet Archive, State Library staff identified titles residing in its rare collection vaults or closed stacks which had not been digitized by others. Selections focused on the State Library's historic science collection, and other exhibitions, as well as the historic pamphlet volumes. Metadata was created by a State Library staff member. An Internet Archive staff member digitized the files.



Intent: Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.

Activity: Content
Mode: Preservation
Format: Digital


Quantity
Number of items conserved, relocated to protective storage, rehoused, or for which other preservation-appropriate physical action was taken: 967
Number of items reformatted, migrated, or for which other digital preservation-appropriate action was taken: 0
Number of preservation plans/frameworks produced/updated (i.e. preservation readiness plans, data management plans): 0


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 0
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 1
Activity Details
Title: Pennsylvania Serials Microfilming and Digitization
Narrative:

State Library staff worked with two vendors, BackstageLibrary Works and Creekside Digital, to microfilm and digitize historicnewspapers and scrapbook collections for upload into PA Photos and Documentsand the Pennsylvania State University newspaper repository.



Intent: Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.

Activity: Content
Mode: Preservation
Format: Digital


Quantity
Number of items conserved, relocated to protective storage, rehoused, or for which other preservation-appropriate physical action was taken: 0
Number of items reformatted, migrated, or for which other digital preservation-appropriate action was taken: 24
Number of preservation plans/frameworks produced/updated (i.e. preservation readiness plans, data management plans): 0


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: Yes
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 0
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 1
Activity Details
Title: Metadata Creation for Digitized Library Resources
Narrative:

A metadata librarian was employed to index items by creating access points, or metadata, so that scholars and other researchers using the State Library's electronic collections for digitized document sand rare books could find them effectively and efficiently.



Intent: Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.

Activity: Content
Mode: Description
Format: Digital


Quantity
Number of items made discoverable to the public: 991
Number of collections made discoverable to the public: 0
Number of metadata plans/frameworks produced/updated: 1


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: Yes
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 0
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 1
Question 1: I am satisfied that the resource is meeting library needs.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: Applying the resource will help improve library services to the public.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
The digitization work with Internet Archive resulted in another 967 individual volumes being made available online, for a total of approximately 21,626 titles available as of September 30, 2020. This work increased access to these materials for researchers. The State Library continued to digitize PA newspaper microfilm from its collections and others in order to increase access to additional Pennsylvania newspapers. This year 1 title was digitized from microfilm for upload to Penn State University’s newspaper repository. The number of titles that could be digitized was impacted by the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
The State Library receives a growing number of users requesting access to materials which they discovered due to the collection's visibility on the Internet. Once they have located a few of the items digitally, people are anxious to see what additional materials are located within the State Library's physical collections and request expanded access to more digital items. There continues to be increased interest by local libraries and historical societies requesting digitized access to titles from the State Library's collection or in obtaining information about how to digitize something. State Library staff continued to work with a statewide advisory board to prioritize materials for digitization as well as to develop a document that assists others who want to digitize items from their own collections by using a tabletop scribe scanning station that is available for loan to other institutions. The biggest challenge for most users remains having an understanding copyright issues.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
More emphasis needs to be placed on assisting libraries in reviewing their collections for appropriate items to digitize. Training on copyright law and how it affects what can be digitized and available openly on a website is also needed.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
No
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
No
Explain:

Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
No
Explain:

Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
No
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
No
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
No
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Third-Party
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:
Exemplary: No
Exemplary Narrative
Project Tags: Digitization, Newspapers, Internet Archives