Enhancing digital capability for library collections
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leicester
Department Name: College of Soc Scien, Arts & Humanities
Abstract
The project will support the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment for the digitisation of library and archive material at the University of Leicester (UoL). UoL library holds collections that are of international, national, and regional significance. These collections are used by arts and humanities researchers across disciplines at Leicester, external academics from around the world and members of the public. UoL's digitised collections are made freely available via the Library's Special Collections Online website and receive around 3 million page views per year.
Among the library's strengths are modern literary archives including the papers of acclaimed playwright Joe Orton and the best selling author Sue Townsend. The Library holds one of the finest collections of rare antiquarian and topographical works outside of Oxford, Cambridge, and London. Other strengths include the Fairclough Collection of 17th century portrait prints, archives relating to modern Leicester, medical and scientific material including the archive of DNA pioneer Alec Jeffreys, and regionally significant collections of medieval manuscripts and incunabula. UoL also holds the library and manuscripts of the Mathematical Association and Leicester Medical Society.
Existing digitisation equipment is reaching the end of its life and is in urgent need of renewal. The new book scanners will enhance the University Library's capability to support world-leading research and reach new audiences for its collections through digitisation. They will also increase capacity for digitising collections held by partner institutions working with UoL researchers. This includes small and medium-sized cultural heritage organisations that do not have access to specialist digitisation equipment themselves. Leicester is a regional centre of excellence for the digitisation and preservation of sound heritage collections, including those held by the East Midlands Oral History Archive. Oral history and other sound archives are frequently part of a larger collection that includes paper records. The investment would support UoL's ambitions to become a one-stop shop for the digitisation of audio heritage collections and accompanying material.
Among the library's strengths are modern literary archives including the papers of acclaimed playwright Joe Orton and the best selling author Sue Townsend. The Library holds one of the finest collections of rare antiquarian and topographical works outside of Oxford, Cambridge, and London. Other strengths include the Fairclough Collection of 17th century portrait prints, archives relating to modern Leicester, medical and scientific material including the archive of DNA pioneer Alec Jeffreys, and regionally significant collections of medieval manuscripts and incunabula. UoL also holds the library and manuscripts of the Mathematical Association and Leicester Medical Society.
Existing digitisation equipment is reaching the end of its life and is in urgent need of renewal. The new book scanners will enhance the University Library's capability to support world-leading research and reach new audiences for its collections through digitisation. They will also increase capacity for digitising collections held by partner institutions working with UoL researchers. This includes small and medium-sized cultural heritage organisations that do not have access to specialist digitisation equipment themselves. Leicester is a regional centre of excellence for the digitisation and preservation of sound heritage collections, including those held by the East Midlands Oral History Archive. Oral history and other sound archives are frequently part of a larger collection that includes paper records. The investment would support UoL's ambitions to become a one-stop shop for the digitisation of audio heritage collections and accompanying material.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Simon Dixon (Principal Investigator) |
| Description | The principal benefits of this award have been to enhance the digitisation capacity of the University of Leicester Library, including our ability to provide high quality digitisation of items from our archives and special collections. Two pieces of equipment have been purchased: a high-spec camera and digitisation workstation and an overhead book scanner. |
| Exploitation Route | The purchased items will help us to make digitised content from our collections available to researchers and the general public, both freely via our Special Collections Online website and in response to individual demand from researchers. |
| Sectors | Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |