Peer Review

Moving Theory Into Practice: Digital Imaging Tutorial

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Reviewed:: Jan 17, 2011 by Library and Information Services

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Ratings

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Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: This tutorial offers base-level information on the use of digital imaging to convert and make accessible cultural heritage materials. It also introduces some concepts advocated by Cornell University Library, in particular the value of benchmarking requirements before undertaking a digital initiative. You will find here up-to-date technical information, formulas, and reality checks, designed to test your level of understanding. The tutorial can stand on its own, but it is intended to be used in tandem with another product, Moving Theory into Practice: Digital Imaging for Libraries and Archives, by Anne R. Kenney and Oya Y. Rieger (RLG, 2000). This publication picks up where the tutorial leaves off and advocates an integrated approach to digital imaging programs, from selection to access to preservation and management. Over 50 international experts contributed to the intellectual content of this book(description from site). The tutorial is available in English, Spanish and French.
Type of Material:: Tutorial
Recommended Uses:: The tutorial could be used for in class instruction, homework, or individual or team use.
Technical Requirements:: * Monitor setting: 800 x 600 display * 16-bit (thousands) color or higher bit depth * Web browser: Netscape Communicator v.4.6 or up; Internet Explorer v.5.0 or up * JavaScript must be enabled
Identify Major Learning Goals:: Users will learn about digital imaging terminology, addressing project goals related to digital project, material selection and legal restrictions, attributes of source documents, analog to digital conversion, components of the digitization chain, making images Web accessible, and maintenance issues related to digital collections. The tutorial also includes a digital imaging bibliography and additional readings for individual sections.
Target Student Population:: Librarians, library professionals or graduate level students.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: No specific prerequisites are required. However, users with a background in digital images or library science will benefit most from the information presented.

Content Quality

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Strengths:: The tutorial provides good coverage of digital imaging concepts and processes and is very well written. Concepts are presented in a concise manner, and the content also includes many references that can be used for further investigation of topics. This very well constructed tutorial would be useful for institutions beginning scanning projects. Information from the tutorial could be used to inform grant requests for scanning projects. Many of the fundamentals related to image quality, formats, etc. that can be found in this tutorial would be useful for students who may be using scanned images in presentations and papers. This tutorial would be an excellent addition to a robust information literacy curriculum.
Concerns:: Concepts such as project goals and the pros and cons of outsourcing or creating in-house digital imaging are advanced. However, the tutorial would be a very good starting-point resource.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

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Strengths:: Users need a basic understanding or working knowledge of digital images. However, the tutorial begins by introducing basic elements to be considered when digitizing images and builds on that knowledge. It also does a good job of touching on a range project-level issues. This is a very well constructed tutorial with a solid progression of concepts. It would be very easy to write assignments, including laboratory type assignments, for this tutorial.
Concerns:: None.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

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Strengths:: The tutorial has an excellent navigation system that allows users to see their progression via a graphic cue. The tutorial effectively uses images to demonstrate concepts mentioned in the text. The amount of text information is appropriate for this type of tutorial, providing ample information without becoming too lengthy. The layout is very clean and easy to read and the navigation is very easy use.
Concerns:: broken links throughout the tutorial.

Other Issues and Comments:: Overall, this is an excellent resource that is very well written and includes some nice quizzes with feedback. One consideration is that updating to links is needed. A very useful tutorial on a fascinating subject.
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