 |  Building the Digital Collection | Создание цифровой коллекции |
| English | Russian | Анлийский | Русский |
The Meeting of Frontiers digital collection currently includes multiple formats from throughout the collections of the Library of Congress and partner institutions. Different types of material include printed matter in seven languages (Russian, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Icelandic), some with fold-out illustrations or maps; handwritten manuscript material in both Russian and English; pictorial material in several different media (albumen prints, other photographic prints, 9-inch glass plate negatives, photographic albums); bound and unbound cartographic materials; film made from paper prints; and 10-inch reel recorded sound. The variety of original formats required specialized digitization for each format and scanning and post-processing contributions from many members of the NDLP production group. Below, specific scanning information is provided for each format.
The production of this digital collection proceeded under format digitization standards as implemented by the American Memory pilot project. Materials held in Russian institutions were digitized in Russia. The University of Alaska Fairbanks scanned cartographic materials from 4x5 color transparencies.
Online, all items from the collections of the Library of Congress are described and searchable individually in a bibliographic record database, utilizing full MARC record cataloging when available. Bibliographic information is recorded in romanized form only. All non-romanized titles and names have been transliterated according to the Library of Congress standard to the Latin-1 character set for use in the search engine and bibliographic database. For items from the collections of the Library of Congress, the convention is that the transliteration of information from the original items reflects exactly the orthography used on the original item.
Items from the collections of the Russian and Alaskan partner libraries are described and searchable in the same bibliographic record database as Library of Congress materials, but making use of the respective standards for description of those institutions. For Russian institutions, bibliographic information is recorded primarily in Russian (in transliteration) although some Russian annotations are accompanied by English translations. Here again, all non-English titles and names have been transliterated according to the Library of Congress standard to the Latin-1 character set for use in the search engine and bibliographic database, however following Russian library practice, the orthography used in description of items produced prior to the orthographic reforms of 1918 has been updated to reflect modern Russian orthography (that is, the orthography in the searchable records is in some cases not the same as that on the actual items themselves).
Specifications for Library of Congress digitization:
Printed Material | Manuscripts | Maps | Photographs | Motion Pictures | Recorded Sound | Other
PRINTED MATERIAL
Paper-based printed documents in the Meeting of Frontiers collection were digitized by Systems Integration Group (SIG) of Lanham, Maryland. Each item was reproduced as a fascsimile page image. The image capture occurred at the Library and, in order to preserve the originals, bound works were scanned in their bindings. One page was scanned at a time. The master or archival version of the textual pages (containing typography and line art) is a 300 dots per inch (dpi) bitonal image in the TIFF format, using ITU Group IV compression. Pages with printed halftone illustrations, finely detailed line drawings, or pages with significant color, including book covers, were captured as 8-bit grayscale or 24-bit color images, as appropriate, and stored in the JFIF (with JPEG compression) image format.
Fifteen books in the collection also contained oversized fold-out illustrations or maps. These pages were conserved, unfolded and flattened and scanned separately in grayscale or color at high resolution. These page images were stored as uncompressed TIFF images and subsequently compressed using the Multi-Resolution Seamless Image Database (MrSID) format, frequently used for stand-alone cartographic material. The MrSID format will allow users to zoom into these images for greater detail.LizardTech donated the license for the compression software.
These images are integrated with other page image formats to create a complete sequence of pages for the particular item.
Catalog Access:
These items - books and serials from the Rare Book and General Collections - are described in the database using pre-existing and updated MARC-format catalog records.
Microfilm of printed materials was also digitized in the case of the Russian-Ukrainian Pamphlet and Brochure Collection. For optimal capture of detail, the microfilm negative was duplicated, printed directly from the master microfilm and produced for scanning by Preservation Resources, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The digital images were captured by Preservation Resources in both bitonal (for textual material) and 8-bit grayscale (for illustrations or photos) depending upon the content of the frame. Bitonal images were saved in TIFF format, using ITU Group IV compression and grayscale images were stored as compressed JPEG files.
References images in .GIF format were created for quick online access. These images were derived from the archive files during the post-processing phase of production using Image Alchemy image-processing software.
Catalog Access:
These documents were minimally cataloged to provide author, title, place of publication, edition, series entry, number of pages, and illustration notes.
MANUSCRIPTS
Manuscript materials in the Meeting of Frontiers collection were digitized from microfilm negatives in the cases of the Yudin and USSR Ministry of Marine collections and from bound paper in the case of the Kennan Papers and the Log of the U.S.S. Jeannette, loaned by the National Archives and Records Adminstration.
Microfilm of historical documents presents a number of challenges to digitization because of the quality of the microfilm being scanned. In addition, there are problems of original document condition, a wide range of tonal values, document sizes, and document orientation on the microfilm. These microfilm collections were scanned from duplicate negative microfilm copy, processed for scanning by Preservation Resources. These handwritten materials were scanned in 8-bit grayscale in order to capture and display a wide range of tonal variations, from those in the document paper to diverse qualities of pencil and ink. This type of capture also tends to suppress the bleedthrough typical of handwritten documents in these microfilm collections. The items are stored in compressed JPEG format.
Bound paper-based items from the manuscript collections were scanned by SIG in 8-bit grayscale to capture all the variation of information in these handwritten journals and logs. The page images are stored in compressed JPEG format.
Reference images in .GIF format were created for quick online access. These images were derived from the archive files during the post-processing phase of production.
Catalog Access:
Access to the manuscript collections is available through a document-level description provided by reference specialists in the European Division. Each record provides an item number, description of content, and date, if available. For non-English items, these descriptions were translated to English for online access.
MAPS
Cartographic materials from the Library's collections were created by Geography and Map Division staff scanning the original map on a large-format (24x36 inches) flatbed scanner using a RGB (red-green-blue) 24-bit CCD color sensor (16.8 million colors). The scanner was manufactured by Tangent Image Systems.
Each raster image was produced by scanning the item at a resolution of 300 dots-per-inch and converting the resulting proprietary file format to TIFF format.
Following scanning, the TIFF files were enhanced using the WindowsNT version of Adobe Photoshop 5.0, an image processing software, to rotate, crop, adjust brightness or contrast, and stitch together TIFF images for items requiring multiple scans. This software was donated by Macromedia.
The TIFF files were compressed, using a wavelet-based image compressing software called Multi-Resolution Seamless Image Database (MrSID). This software integrates multiple resolutions of an image into a single file which enables Internet users to zoom in, getting more and more detail. Although MrSID is a "lossy" compressor, the images were compressed at a ratio of 22:1 without experiencing any loss of information. LizardTech donated the license for the compression software.
The final step was the creation of a small GIF file for use as the initial thumbnail display of the item using Image Alchemy.
Cartographic digital specifications:
Master image:
Scanning resolution: 300 dpi
Tonal resolution: 24-bit color, RGB separation
File format: TIFF
Compression: none
Reference image:
Scanning resolution: 300 dpi
Tonal resolution: 24-bit color, RGB separation
File format: SID
Compression: Wavelet
Thumbnail image:
Viewing resolution: 72 dpi
Tonal resolution: 8-bit color, RGB separation
File format: GIF
Compression: none
PHOTOGRAPHS
The pictorial collections are provided for access and research purposes. Although the Library does not call the archival or master digital images of these items "preservation copies," these images will play the same role vis-a-vis the original as have copies made on photographic film in the past. Online users can use these images to conduct research that requires a clear view of very small features of the original, to enliven student presentations, or to illustrate a book (copyright permitting).
Each item was digitally captured according to its original format (in color or grayscale). Each bibliographic record is accompanied by a thumbnail image, which provides access to a compressed reference image and the uncompressed archival (or master) image.
The original formats vary among specific collections:
- the Kennan Photograph Collection includes 8x10 inch albumen prints and 3x4 inch cartes-de-visite scanned in 24-bit color;
- the Grabill Collection was scanned in 24-bit color from the original matted sepia-toned prints;
- the Carpenter Collection was scanned in 8-bit grayscale from existing service copy prints;
- the Prokudin-Gorskii Collection was scanned using several approaches relative to the original matter. The "primary" item is a 9-inch glass-plate negative with 3 frames. The top frame, or blue frame, was printed by the Library's Photoduplication Services and the copy negative was scanned in 8-bit grayscale. The service item for the collection, a photo album, was also scanned as facsimile page images at 8-bit grayscale. See About the Prokudin-Gorskii Collection for more information.
- the William C. Brumfield Collection was scanned in 24-bit color from 35-mm slides.
The digital images in this collection were produced by JJT Incorporated of Austin, Texas, using the MARC II digital camera. This overhead device permits the original items to be safely placed on a copy stand. The camera's depth of field allows for slight curvature in the original, eliminating the necessity of flattening the item. The images were initially captured using a 3500x3500-pixel matrix at 36 bits-per-pixel. Image processing was executed at 48-bits-per-pixel. For the archival or master image as saved, the spatial resolution was reduced to 5000 pixels on the long side (with the short side scaled in proportion) and the tonal resolution reduced to 24 bits per pixel. JJT's post--processing step also created the two derivative images that complete the set of three delivered to the Library.
| Pictorial digital specifications: | |
|---|---|
| Uncompressed Archival Images | |
| Spatial resolution: | About 5,000 pixels on the long side with the short side falling where it may, proportion only. This spatial resolution was employed regardless of the size of the original negative or transparency. |
| Tonal (pixel-depth) resolution Grayscale: Color: |
8-bits per pixel 24-bits per pixel |
| File format: | Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) ver. 6.0 |
| Compression: | None |
| Compressed Service Images | |
| Spatial resolution
Medium resolution: Higher resolution: |
640 pixels on the long side with the short side falling where it may. 1024 pixels on the long side with the short side falling where it may. |
| Tonal (pixel-depth) resolution
Grayscale: Color: |
8-bits per pixel 24-bits per pixel |
| File format: | JFIF (JPEG File Interchange Format) |
| Compression:
Medium resolution: Higher resolution: |
JPEG at a quality setting that yields an average compression of 15:1. JPEG at a quality setting that yields an average compression of 8:1. |
| Thumbnail Images | |
| Spatial resolution: | About 150 pixels on the long side with the short side falling where it may. |
| Tonal (pixel-depth) resolution: | 8-bits per pixel; palettes optimized (adaptive palettes) for each image. |
| File formats
Archived copy: Online copy: |
Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) format |
| Compression
Archived copy: |
uncompressed online copy: compression native to the GIF format. |
Catalog Access:
All pictorial items are catalogued in Brief Access Record MARC format.
MOTION PICTURES
The motion pictures chosen for digitization are all black-and-white silent films.
The films selected for inclusion in Meeting of Frontiers were printed on paper as a positive picture, frame by frame, and deposited for copyright between 1894 and 1912. The paper rolls were copied by the Library of congress on to 16mm motion picture negative film. A positive film print was made from the negative and transferred to Betacam SP videotape to produce the master for digitization. In order to present an authentic record of the paper prints as artifacts, some of the edging and perforations evident on the originals have been left in the digital frame. Likewise, original labels, titles, and other tagging documentation have been retained, as well as other imperfections from the original.
The films were digitized by Roland House in Arlington, Virginia, where they were copied to Betacam SP videotape. The original motion pictures were shot at varying frame rates; therefore, in the video mastering process, the playback speeds were adjusted to present the appearance of natural motion to the greatest degree possible. Main title frames for each film were added during the editing process.
MPEG, QuickTime, and RealMedia digital versions of the films are available on the Meeting of Frontiers Web site. The MPEG and QuickTime versions of titles with running times greater than four minutes have been divided into segments to reduce the file sizes to 40MB or less. A typical 28.8 Internet connection achieves a theoretical maximum download rate of approximately 3.5 KB/sec (210 K/min) under ideal conditions. Therefore, a file of 40 MB would take approximately 190 minutes (3 hours, 10 minutes) in optimal conditions and possibly up to two to three times longer depending on Internet traffic load.
Catalog Access:
Where possible, existing MARC records were used for film bibliographic description. Otherwise, existing print catalog information was used.
RECORDED SOUND
The sound recording presented in the online collection was taken from the original 10-inch reel-to-reel tape recording in the Library's collections. The analog audio from the tape was transferred to Digital Audio Tape (DAT) to produce a master source for digitization. Some background noise may be apparent on the recordings. The audio file has not been digitally enhanced or altered in any way from its original state. WAVE and RealAudio versions have been supplied for the recording.
The WAVE file was created from the DAT tape at a sampling rate of 22,050 samples per second, 16-bit word length, and a single (mono) channel. The RealAudio file was derived from the WAVE file by digital processing and was created for users who have at least a 14.4 modem.
All digitization for the sound recording was performed at the Library by National Digital Library Program staff.
Catalog Access:
The descriptive information for recorded sound was taken from the existing finding aid made available by the American Folklife Center. A Russian summary and English summary of the song are also available online.
OTHER
Exhibition materials included in the Meeting of Frontiers digital collection are treated as pictorial items regardless of the original material format. These materials were gathered for the specific purpose of display and have been included in this digital collection as such. Items included in the In the Beginning was the Word: The Russian Church and Native Alaskan Cultures online exhibition were copied and repurposed for use in Frontiers, using the existing online information for bibliographic information. Selections from the Uncle Sam in Oregon Country poster exhibition were available in 4x5-inch color transparency format. These transparencies were scanned by JJT, Austin, Texas, using pictorial scanning specifications. Bibliographic description was gathered from the printed exhibition guidebook.