Semitics/ICOR Semitics/ICOR Library: A Library: A Technological Study Technological Study By: LSC 555 By: LSC 555

Yao Cheng Dr. ChoiYao Cheng Dr. Choi Glynnis La Garde 12/12/09Glynnis La Garde 12/12/09 Annamaria La ScalaAnnamaria La Scala Samantha SaporitoSamantha Saporito

This Screen Shots Shows Dr. Monica This Screen Shots Shows Dr. Monica Blanchard (the Curator of the Blanchard (the Curator of the Semitics/ICOR Library Semitics/ICOR Library

This Screen Shot Shows Jonathan This Screen Shot Shows Jonathan Smith Smith (the Electronic Services Librarian) (the Electronic Services Librarian)

This Screen Shot Shows Amalaraji This Screen Shot Shows Amalaraji Savari (Raj) the Library Management Savari (Raj) the Library Management Systems Librarian Systems Librarian

Semitics LibrarySemitics Library

1. Why it was founded (founder-1. Why it was founded (founder-Hyvernet)Hyvernet)

Semitics/ICOR Library — Semitics and Semitics/ICOR Library — Semitics and Institute of Christian Oriental Research Institute of Christian Oriental Research LibraryLibrary

Semitics Library

2. What collections the library has 2. What collections the library has a. 45,000 Classified volumes and other a. 45,000 Classified volumes and other

unclassified materialsunclassified materials b. Collection holdings’ interests(3 aspects)b. Collection holdings’ interests(3 aspects) 3.Goal—support the teaching and research 3.Goal—support the teaching and research

activities of the department of Semitics activities of the department of Semitics &Egyptian Language &Literatures and the &Egyptian Language &Literatures and the ICORICOR

Semitics LibrarySemitics Library

4. Mission4. Mission 5. Main groups of users (scholars & 5. Main groups of users (scholars &

faculty)faculty) 6. Staff6. Staff 7. Systems mainly used in Semitics 7. Systems mainly used in Semitics

Library (Voyager, website, digitized Library (Voyager, website, digitized collections)collections)

Semitics Library -- Technology

1.Type of configuration (LAN client/server) 2.Server (number, names) 3.Platform (type-MC &PC) 4.Network a. Type-Window NT; MAC OS b. Version-Window NT; MAC OS X 10.4) 5.Software-Voyager

Semitics/ICOR Library Semitics/ICOR Library Digitization Projects: AnalysisDigitization Projects: Analysis

Digital projects:Digital projects: Provide access to valuable, hard-to-Provide access to valuable, hard-to-

access material, especially of Syriac and access material, especially of Syriac and Coptic originsCoptic origins

Serve global constituencyServe global constituency

Challenges:Challenges: Limited funding, staff and timeLimited funding, staff and time

What Has Worked: What Has Worked: CollaborationCollaboration

eBeth Arke: The Syriac Digital Library eBeth Arke: The Syriac Digital Library http://www.bethmardutho.org/ebetharke/

The Syriac Studies Reference Library (Brigham The Syriac Studies Reference Library (Brigham Young University & Catholic University) Young University & Catholic University) http://www.lib.byu.edu/dlib/cua/

APIS (Advanced Papyrological Information APIS (Advanced Papyrological Information System) System) http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/projects/digital/apis/

Characteristics of Characteristics of Present ProjectsPresent Projects

+ Staff have received training and + Staff have received training and experience in digitization.experience in digitization.

+/- Projects are small-scale but contextual.+/- Projects are small-scale but contextual.

- The projects lack visibility and promotion - The projects lack visibility and promotion on the library's website. on the library's website.

- The library has no good way of making - The library has no good way of making the end product of their own scanned the end product of their own scanned material available directly to their users.material available directly to their users.

RecommendationsRecommendations

1. Promotion of priority on website.1. Promotion of priority on website.

2. Obtain or develop a content management 2. Obtain or develop a content management system (CMS)system (CMS) for staff management of, and for staff management of, and public access to, digital images and metadata, public access to, digital images and metadata, present and future. Options:present and future. Options:

WRLC Digital & Special Collections archival WRLC Digital & Special Collections archival management tool.management tool.

Custom-designed CMS.Custom-designed CMS. Open source content management tools.Open source content management tools.

http://www.aladin.wrlc.org/gsdl/collect/http://www.aladin.wrlc.org/gsdl/collect/treasure/treasure.shtmltreasure/treasure.shtml

http://students.cua.edu/59new/http://students.cua.edu/59new/CollectionsMainPage.htmlCollectionsMainPage.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/library_of_congress/

Recommendations, continued…Recommendations, continued…

3. Digitization lab3. Digitization lab Low-budget, minimum requirements:Low-budget, minimum requirements: Physical facility.Physical facility. Computer with Windows XP Professional, monitor, Computer with Windows XP Professional, monitor,

and a scanner. and a scanner. Full-time staff member.Full-time staff member.

Higher end plan:Higher end plan: CMS, whether custom-made or open source.CMS, whether custom-made or open source. A full-time technician, or two part-time technicians.A full-time technician, or two part-time technicians.

Screen Shot of the Screen Shot of the Semitics/ICOR Library Semitics/ICOR Library WebsiteWebsite

The Website -- ChallengesThe Website -- Challenges

Lack of controlLack of control Takes a long time to maintainTakes a long time to maintain Limitations of cataloging (MARC) clash Limitations of cataloging (MARC) clash

with catalog -- artifactswith catalog -- artifacts Small staffSmall staff

The Website -- HeuristicsThe Website -- Heuristics

How it is nowHow it is now Simple design/interface- Simple design/interface-

good visible heuristicgood visible heuristic Links- hard to see, not Links- hard to see, not

very well organizedvery well organized Material not up-to-dateMaterial not up-to-date Distracting imageDistracting image

Possible ChangesPossible Changes Post Mission StatementPost Mission Statement Make links clearerMake links clearer Establish a hierarchy of Establish a hierarchy of

linkslinks Add descriptions of Add descriptions of

special linksspecial links Rearrange imageRearrange image

The Website -- A New The Website -- A New VersionVersion

Can be part of personal staff siteCan be part of personal staff site Drop down menusDrop down menus Left- Semitics/ICOR Library linksLeft- Semitics/ICOR Library links Top- links to material/services of Mullen Top- links to material/services of Mullen

LibraryLibrary Low right- “Google Search” & Low right- “Google Search” &

CommunicationCommunication Middle- Images that double as linksMiddle- Images that double as links

Website -- New Version Website -- New Version Outline: Created By Yao Outline: Created By Yao