Digital Archivists

The Noisebridge Digital Archivists group is for anyone interested in a range of topics including book scanning, digitizing video/audio, open access, creative commons, and more. We usually meet on Wednesdays at 7pm. Check the mailing list to see if there's a meeting this week.

Join the mailing list here: digitalarchivists

Our first project was to build a book scanner at Noisebridge based on the open-source DIY Book Scanner design. Here it is, ready to scan:

For details about the book scanner, see: Bookscanner

Meeting notes

2015-02-25 - training session for scanner, looked at linear book scanner prototype

2015-02-11 - scanner demo, discussion

2015-01-25 - discussed Andrew Defries' scanning booth and post-processing station, experimented with Vinux

2014-09-24 - reassembled and demoed the scanner to visitors, some linear book scanner updates, discussed funding and directions for the group

2014-08-28 - social meeting at Open Drinks

2014-07-17 - discussed scanning stand design at Muddy Waters

2014-06-19 - short meeting and 5mof

2014-06-12 - discussed plans for a portable phone-based scanner, assembled cardboard prototype of prism scanner

2014-06-05 - discussed improvements to the scanner and ocr pipeline

2014-05-29 - main topics were portable scanners for the blind and OCR comparison algorithms. full notes: Digital Archivists 2014-05-29

2014-05-22 - discussed lessons learned from DIY Scanner 1.0 and a range of new initiatives. full notes: Digital Archivists 2014-05-22

2014-01-09 - scanned books, investigated glare and alignment issues

2013-12-19 - bug fixes in the code, reviewed linear scanners from Michigan, improved documentation, discussed larger book scanning network

2013-12-12 - replaced LED shields with black cloth, more scanning

2013-12-05 - scanned books

2013-11-21 - scanned a book, wrote tesseract ocr script, looked at old computers, 5mof presentation

2013-11-14 - improved scanning gui, added LED shields

2013-11-07 - replaced bunjees, mounted LEDs, tried to run spreads

2013-10-31 - reassembled scanner, looked at 'spreads' software, screen readers

2013-10-24 - disassembled and painted scanner parts

2013-10-17 - investigated glare and LED positioning, plan to paint black, 5mof presentation

2013-10-10 - mounted cameras, built trigger mechanism, wrote capture script

2013-10-03 - picked up scanner and equipment from internet archive

2013-07-27 - internet archive borrows the book scanner

2013-07-18 - 5mof presentation on book scanning

2013-07-08 - discussed scanner location, security, transportation, reimbursement, promotion. full notes: Digital Archivists 2013-07-08

2013-05-23 - scavenged and cut glass from flatbed scanners, plan to attend internet archive friday lunch

2013-04-30 - assembled scanner kit. needs cameras, glass, trigger mechanism, software

2013-04-21 - looked at reetz scanner and prism scanner, discussed content and licensing. will order reetz kit. full notes: Digital Archivists 2013-04-21

Related links

diy book scanner http://diybookscanner.org http://vimeo.com/29184137

linear book scanner project http://linearbookscanner.org

the internet archive http://archive.org/about/

prelinger archives http://archive.org/details/prelinger

new alexandria archive http://www.newalexandria.org/archive/

using archival information in interesting ways http://maptcha.org/

a film about nitrile film decomposition http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-FJyJjH6IE

The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) http://dp.la/