Working group for the digitization of proclamations, broadsides and single-sheet publications

Recently, great attention has been underway in the library field. It concerns the production in print of Proclamations, Broadsides and Single-sheet Publications. The need to preserve the originals and offer a greater usability to users have captured the interest of many institutions toward the digitalisation of such materials which are often of considerable dimensions.

Therefore, in the perspective of coordinating such activity as well as an effective interoperability, the ICCU established the Work Group for the Digitisation of Proclamations, Broadsides and Single-sheet Publications in the summer of 2005 which was approved by the Italian Digital Library Guide Committee. Its objectives being to elaborate guidelines concerning the institutions interested in the digitalisation projects for such materials.

The Group is coordinated by the ICCU and is comprised of experts from the following:

• ICCU
• Biblioteche statali e comunali di Bologna, Firenze e Roma, della Città del Vaticano e della regione Emilia-Romagna
• ICCD

The objectives for the Group are to supply methodological tools and technical guidelines that can be shared among libraries, archives and museums.

The Group has paid special attention to the use of metadata. It developed a mapping of descriptive metadata in different application contexts. Furthermore, from October to June 2006, it conducted a national survey on the digitalisation projects of such materials both completed and in progress.

The Digitisation of Proclamations, Broadsides and Single-sheet Publications Guidelines were formulated in September 2006 at the completion of the aforementioned activity. These guidelines are available by request in a printed version at the ICCU.