• Project History
• Digitization Technical Overview
• Equipment
• More Digital Projects from Hamilton Public Library
• Other Historical Collections on the Web
• Sponsors

Project History

The PreVIEW Digitization project started from October 2004. The project aims at a sustainable approach for digitization at the Hamilton Public Library. We targeted the two dimensional, non- textual historical images, including photographs, negatives, glass negatives, posters, maps and post cards with the year range from 1850s to 1950s. Collections are selected from HPL Local History and Archives Department. The project makes digital images accessible online, providing a resource for students and educators as well as the general public. It raises public awareness of the library’s tremendous resources, and leads to substantial increased use.

The full list of digitized collections

Digitization Technical Overview

Image digitization standards

Equipment

• Microtek Scanmaker 10000XL with TMA
• Microtek ScanMaker i900
• Canon CanoScan 8800F Flatbed Scanner
• Epson Perfection V750 Pro
• Digital Asset Management System – Canto Cumulus 7.5 Web Publisher Pro
• Storage Array Network (SAN): Dell EMC RAID storage System with Fibre Channel host interfaces and Fibre Channel disk drives
• Dell Graphic Workstations with 20” LCD Monitor

More Digital Projects from Hamilton Public Library

The Local History & Archives Department has several other digital collections online:

The Canadian Public Parks Movement: The Hamilton Experience
Cultural Landmarks of Hamilton-Wentworth
The Heart of the City: A Virtual Tour of Downtown Hamilton
Industrial Hamilton: The Trail to the Future

Other Resources Available Online

OurOntario: digital image, text, audio and video materials about Ontario history, heritage and culture. Search the collections of libraries, archives, museums, historical societies, heritage and community groups, government agencies, and private collections in Ontario and across Canada ... via a single search portal.

AlouetteCanada: "The goal of AlouetteCanada is to create, disseminate, preserve and sustain the knowledge base of Canadian memory organizations in digital form, for the purpose of benefiting all Canadians. AlouetteCanada aggregates digital content for all Canadians".

Libraries and Archives Canada: Canada's national collection of books, historical documents, government records, photos, films, maps, music...and more.

American Memory Project from the Library of Congress: “American Memory provides free and open access through the Internet to written and spoken words, sound recordings, still and moving images, prints, maps, and sheet music that document the American experience. It is a digital record of American history and creativity".

Sponsors

The Hamilton Public Library wishes to thank all who made PreVIEW possible, most notably the Hamilton Public Library Board and the Young Canada Works program.