Princeton University Library’s digital projects and initiatives were seriously disrupted by COVID-19. Digitization of materials for projects and forthcoming exhibitions came to an unexpected halt at the same time as patrons and staff were separated from physical objects and library spaces. Necessity, however, provided an opportunity to reassess digital projects and how staff members interact with and contribute to our repository (Figgy). We focused on the creation of workflows and documentation for new contributors who would be working in the repository, helping them enhance existing digital objects with OCR, item level organization, structural metadata, page labeling, and IIIF display attributes.
We describe how we were able to use Figgy and unexpectedly-available staff time to make more effective research tools and provide a better user experience for patrons and staff working with our digital collections. Such enhancements add immense value to our collections as well as to our applications, and the work can be done effectively by a wide range of staff from different departments with variable skill sets.
Esmé Cowles escowles@ticklefish.org Kim Leaman
Princeton University Library’s digital projects and initiatives were seriously disrupted by COVID-19. Digitization of materials for projects and forthcoming exhibitions came to an unexpected halt at the same time as patrons and staff were separated from physical objects and library spaces. Necessity, however, provided an opportunity to reassess digital projects and how staff members interact with and contribute to our repository (Figgy). We focused on the creation of workflows and documentation for new contributors who would be working in the repository, helping them enhance existing digital objects with OCR, item level organization, structural metadata, page labeling, and IIIF display attributes.
We describe how we were able to use Figgy and unexpectedly-available staff time to make more effective research tools and provide a better user experience for patrons and staff working with our digital collections. Such enhancements add immense value to our collections as well as to our applications, and the work can be done effectively by a wide range of staff from different departments with variable skill sets.