Access Dunia 2010 User Group Meeting 18 May 2010

Swiss Garden Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

DIGITIZING HERITAGE COLLECTIONS

Linda YipAccess Dunia Snd Bhd

Clive WingiGroup

THE SINGAPORE MEMORY PROJECT

Access Dunia 2010 User Group Meeting

18 May 2010

Swiss Garden Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 Linda Yip

Access Dunia Sdn Bhd

****

Based on paper by Ms Ch’ng Kim See entitled THE SINGAPORE LIBRARIES’ PERSPECTIVE presented at the 466TH SALZBURG GLOBAL SEMINAR, October

2009.

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Background

As early as 2000, ISEAS Library planned to digitize its rare book collection comprising a core list of 1,000 titles. It experimented with a local vendor which successfully scanned three titles:

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Raffles, Thomas Stamford. The history of Java.

1817 & 1830 editions,

Gervaise, Nicolas.

Description historique du royaume de Macacar … 1688.

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The Private Papers of-- Malayan Nationalist Tun Tan Cheng Lock

-- Singapore First Chief Minister David Marshall -- Malayan Finance Minister Tun H.S. Lee

have been digitized, but not yet conserved. Other Private Papers, e.g.

-- Malaysian Deputy PM Tun Dr Ismail Abd Rahman -- Singapore Foreign Minister S. Rajaratnamare being planned for conservation and digitization.

Special Collections

THE SINGAPORE MEMORY PROJECT

AimTo preserve, conserve, digitize and make accessible national heritage and cultural collections

 Time Frame

Sustained long-term national initiative Collaborative Effort

Libraries, museum, archives, institutions, NGOs, schools and individuals

 

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• ISEAS Library, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies

• National Archives of Singapore

• National University of Singapore Libraries

• Singapore Press Holdings Information Resource

Centre, and

• National Library

Core Group Partners

Objectives Build National Knowledge Assets

• Singapore stories• Multimedia• Beyond Singapore – Malaysia, India• Beyond official content

Inform and educate about Singapore and its society

Dissemination and Availability• Digital, through private, public and people sectors• Accessible by users• Multiplier effect

Scope Format

Multimedia Content

Historical, cultural, educational, political Period

Before 1819 (Founding) to present continuity as the futurebecomes the present and the past

CoverageInclusive, beyond Singapore

Southeast Asia region, global community: Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); United Nations (UN); Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF)

Resource Expertise

Social scientists

Historians Priorities

Materials of high value, unique, fragileContent criteria

  Pioneers  Landmark buildingsCreative expressionsChroniclers

Scope (contd)

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Key Outcomes

• Context within government directions• Ease of access to Singapore content• Increased research and discovery of Singapore related studies• Engagement of Singaporeans, residents and others in activities• Increased knowledge and understanding of key historical, cultural, social, economic and political aspects • Long-term and sustainable plan and process at national level in research and discovery

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Components

• Source knowledge assets about Singapore • Organizing, preservation and conservation of physical collections• Digitization

- Creation of digital reporting from resources of participating institution- Develop applications and services to secure storage and facilitate access

• Access and discovery- Create and develop Singapore Memory portal – web search engine- Auto-index and interactive features- Engage users and minimize manpower costs

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Components (contd)

• Knowledge asset creation- Develop more content - Physical and/or web publication

• Project management, key deliverables- Establishment and coordination of partnerships and networks - Establish standards, tools, acquisition policies- Establish archival responsibilities of partner institutions - Develop competencies – long-term

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Advocacy – Target Knowledge Audience, Communities and Stakeholders

Government, ministers and officials

Funders and philanthropists

  National education programmes

  Programmes and exhibitions

  Potential depositions

  Snowball/multiplier effects re stakeholders

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• National collaboration

• National facilitator – National Library

• Robust and comprehensive digital infrastructure

• Value circle of complementarity

• Incorporate existing core collections of Singapore Memory Network Core Group

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Strategic Approach

Singapore Memory Steering Committee

– chaired by Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts

Singapore Memory Network Core Group Partners = Advisory Panel

–-  ISEAS Library, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies

– National Archives of Singapore

– National University of Singapore Libraries

– Singapore Press Holdings Information Resource Centre

– National Library, Singapore

Strategic Approach (contd)

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SMP Technical Standards Sub-Committee

Establish a common set of guidelines, formats and procedures to:

a. facilitate putting Singapore Memory content across different types of materials online for access

b. ensure the Singapore Memory content is preserved over time and not subject to obsolescence

c. facilitate exchange of content for Singapore Memory

Representatives from Core Group Partners

Strategic Approach (contd)

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BUDGET

• S$24 million for the first phase:

2009-2014

• Subsequent annual grant requested:

$10 million.

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33…. ENDS