Digitization and procrastination

My work at Heritage Microfilm involves partnering with libraries, historical  and genealogical societies, museums, and in some cases local governments.   We partner with them to digitize their documents, photographs, newspapers, etc., for the purpose of making this information more accessable to more people.  Digitizing these items also makes them indexed better, and therefore easier to sift and sort through.

Generally it is not a lack of desire on the part of the involved party to get this project accomplished.  Usually it boils down to two things: lack of funding, and a tendency to be overwhelmed with the task.  One of the museums I am working with has over one and a half million photographs that need to be digitized.  That’s a lot of pictures!

Actually, I’m kind of re-visiting an old post of mine today.  That one dealt with how “daunting” it can be to get started on a digitization project.  What got me thinking about this was a personal experience at home.  My computer is a PC, not a Mac.  Those of you who know, understand what I’m saying.  At a certain point in time, a Windows-based computer just gets “dirty”.  It becomes necessary (no, I’m serious here) to wipe your hard drive clean, re-install Windows, then re-install all your programs, shortcuts, address book, documents, favorites . . . the list goes on.  It doesn’t require money, just time.  And if this is something you don’t do on a regular basis (I don’t), it really does take a LOT of time.

Problem is, I’ve been putting this off for almost a year.  It’s one of those things I just lived with.  Well, not any longer.  Last night I sat down at my computer, backed up what I needed to back up, and got started.  While I didn’t complete the job last night, I did get the hard drive re-formatted and ready to receive the installation of Windows.  That process starts tonight.

Don’t wait to start your project because it seems too big.  Don’t wait because you don’t know where to start.  If you’re not sure where or how to start, drop me a line at cswiser@heritagemicrofilm.com.  I’m much better at managing your digital project than I am at my own!

I’ll let you know how the Windows installation process goes.  (happy thoughts, happy thoughts)