Message-Id: <mailto:199411110408.WAA02080@library.wustl.edu> Date: Thu, 10 Nov 1994 19:28:36 -0800 From: Robert MacKimmie <mailto:rm@CALIFHISTSOC.ORG> Subject: Re: "Systems" for Catalog Cards To: Multiple recipients of list IMAGELIB
VTLS (Virginia Tech Library Systems) in Virginia has a very comprehensive project of scanning the card catalog at Princeton University Libraries into a client-server network, making the card catalog available via a large number of workstations. Their system is outstanding as well as the quality and attention to detail in their full bibliographic OPAC.We feel lucky to be using the InfoStation multimedia front end of their system for our Visual Automation Project. The system uses NeXTSTEP based (NeXT Computer) systems, so I have stopped being quite so evangelical to many listservs, even though the integrity, sophistication and performance of our system far exceeds any other system that I am aware of.
As I have always stated, anyone in or visiting the Bay Area is welcome to stop by and have a look at our very exciting 10 workstation, client-server network with all types of rare collection material digitally represented, and cataloged to MARC database standards.
Anyone with questions about cataloging non-book and other visual material, or any material for that matter, can also contact our two knowledgable Visual Image Catalogers: Pat[ricia] Keats mailto:PatKeats@califhistsoc.org or Bary Lee Johnsonmailto:BJohnson@califhistsoc.org. They are both very talented professionals.
Below is a dated, but a still valid press release about the *actually* deployed scanned card catalog system at Princeton. If anyone is on the East Coast, check it out.
Robert MacKimmie Curatorial Director of Photography California Historical Society, San Francisco mailto:rm@califhistsoc.org
Here is the press release:
NEWS RELEASE
IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 3, 1993
PRINCETON CONTACT: Eileen Henthorne, 609-258-1517
VTLS CONTACT: Murray Crowder , 703-231-3605
VTLS INC. TEAMS WITH PRINCETON UNIVERSITY TO CREATE DATABASE OF 6.5 MILLION IMAGES, USING NEXTSTEP-BASED INTERFACE
Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S.A.--VTLS Inc., The Princeton University Libraries, and Princeton's Computing and Information Technology Department are working on a joint project to scan the libraries' public union card catalog, containing 6.5 million 3x5 catalog cards, to create a database of digitized images. The database represents 1.75 million titles acquired and cataloged before 1980, predating Princeton's library automation and online catalog. Initially, the image database will not be integrated with the libraries' online catalog, but will work in conjunction with it. The 6.5 million images represent the largest image database created in a library.
The project is planned in several phases. In the first phase, already completed, library staff analyzed the card catalog and enhanced the guide cards to create an index for the database of card images. In three months, 65,000 index points were created. In the second phase, beginning in June 1993, VTLS Inc. will use single-sided scanners, located on site at the Firestone Library, to generate digital, bit-mapped images of each card in the catalog. Princeton staff will monitor the process for quality control, using workstations to view statistically significant samples of the scanned images.
In the third phase, which will overlap the second, VTLS will develop an interface for the display workstations--40 computers running NEXTSTEP for Intel processors--to be used by library patrons and staff for browsing the database of card images. VTLS will use NeXT Inc.'s NEXTSTEP object-oriented development environment to build the graphical user interface. The NEXTSTEP operating system was selected because of its multimedia and client-server capabilities, and because NEXTSTEP enables the rapid development and deployment of this "mission critical," custom application, as compelled by the continuing deterioration of the catalog cards. Using the NEXTSTEP-based interface, users will browse a hierarchical index tree to retrieve, view and save card images; library staff will also edit scanned images, using graphics software. Initially, 40 display workstations, powered by Intel 486 processors, will be located in the Firestone Library and at all branch locations where there are now card catalogs.
In a later phase, optical character recognition (OCR) will be used to convert the digital image of each card to fully tagged and indexed records of text in standard MARC format such as those found today in Princeton's online catalog. With the present rate of rapid improvement, OCR technology may be reliable enough to make feasible this conversion of the card images.
Several factors led Princeton University to rely on scanning rather than a standard retrospective conversion to combine their card and online catalogs. Scanning will be far more cost- and time-effective than a labor-intensive retrospective conversion. Much of the local information in the card catalog, which is specific to Princeton's collection, is complicated and esoteric and would require extensive editing by library staff. A project in retrospective conversion would therefore create an unacceptable backlog in current cataloging. Moreover, since many of the cards are in poor condition and rapidly deteriorating, the information they contain may be quickly preserved by creating digital images through scanning. Due to the uniqueness of Princeton's catalog, preserving the database by the traditional approach to retrospective conversion, as opposed to scanning, would require inordinate time and money. According to a recent estimate, retrospective conversion of the card catalog would require 11 years to complete and cost $18 million. In contrast, Princeton's image database project will be completed in nine months and will cost less than $1 million.
VTLS was selected to become a partner in this project after Princeton University Libraries and Princeton's Computing and Information Technology Department conducted an intensive, joint evaluation of options and systems developers.
Dr. Vinod Chachra, president of VTLS Inc., said, "VTLS is delighted to have the opportunity to work with Princeton University on such a unique project. The developments from this project related to handling and storing large image databases will surely be made available to other libraries having similar needs."
Princeton is very excited about this imaging project. The project will preserve valuable information, permit network access from non-library locations, provide enhanced searching capabilities to the libraries collection, create more efficient tools for maintaining the catalog, and provide a relatively cost-effective and error-free alternative to standard retrospective conversion. According to Project Director Eileen Henthorne, "The project may serve as a model for other universities and repositories that want faster, more effective access to information and that are concerned about the preservation of their information. Princeton is pleased to be working with VTLS on such an ambitious project."
NEXTSTEP is a registered trademark of NeXT, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries.
__________________ Footnote: * Two years ago, administrators of the Princeton University Libraries selected a network of 27 NeXTstations to replace an aging Wang OIS office automation system. From my viewpoint as the system's administrator, The Libraries' experience with NeXT's interpersonal computing system --running office productivity applications, building a multimedia database, browsing the Internet, and other functions--has been positive. Of course, I speak only for those who think precisely as I do! -Phil __________________
--G. Philippe Menos
mailto:gpmenos@firestone.princeton.edu [NeXTmail OK.] Systems Administrator, Princeton University Libraries voice: 609-258-5183 fax: 609-258-5571