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Digitization as a Means of Preservation of Manuscripts---- 7th International CALIBER 2009

Digitization as a Means of Preservation of Manuscripts: Case study of OsmaniaUniversity Library

Fazluddin Ahmed

Abstract

This paper presents digitization as a means of preservation of manuscripts. It discusses the hardware and soft ware available for digitization. A complete overview of digitization process has alsobeen explained.

Keywords: Digitization, Digital Camera, OCR, Metadata, PDF

1. Introduction

Traditional libraries were only store house of books.The books were kept in locked cupboards and accessto them was limited. The traditional libraries werestatic in the aspect of development. Open accesssystem and preparation of catalogue cardsrevolutionized the library and its services.Computers were used in the early sixties by thelibraries for their various operations. Librariescurrently have experienced technological changein information storage and its retrieval. Themedium of information storage has changed fromclay tablets, palm leaves to paper and now toelectronic and optical media.

The traditional preservation method constitute ofall form of direct actions aimed at the lifeexpectancy of undamaged or damaged elements ofmanuscript like mechanical cleaning solventcleaning etc .Machine made paper made of woodpulp containing harmful acidic ingredients thatcaused deterioration was used.

Preservation ensures that people present and futurewill have access to the information that constitutesthe documentary heritage.

In terms of preservation, digital conversion cancertainly extend the life of a particular artifact. Theuse of original can be restricted and a high qualitysurrogate can be provided. Digitization enhancesaccess to the artifact. as its image can be seen onthe web by users all over the world. In addition tothis it can be sent for offline viewing using a higherresolution uncompressed master file.

2. Factors Responsible for Digitization:

According to Becker, seven technological advanceshave created the environment for digitization.

a. PCs are much more cost effective and powerfulin comparison to a few years ago.

b. Scanning technologies have become cheaperand better, allowing computers to convertmanuscripts, pictures and color photos intodigital files.

c. Storage technologies have improved in termsof price and physical space required.

d. The rapid growth of internet, which providesever widening access to the digitizedinformation.

e. The emergence of more widely acceptedstandard protocols.

f. The increased use of standards like SGML andHTML.

7th International CALIBER-2009,Pondicherry University, Puducherry, February 25-27, 2009

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7th International CALIBER 2009 Digitization as a Means of Preservation of Manuscripts----

g. The emergence of standard image formats andcompression technologies making it possibleto share images on computers.

Presently, libraries are linked through networks ofvarious types. The changes brought by advancementin technology have been so extensive that it isdifficult to assess their total effect but it is clearthat libraries are in state of fundamentaltransformation from manual to electronic, digitaland virtual library.

3. Tools for Digitization

The Hardware and Software tools for digitizationare as follows.

3.1 Hardware

a. A Computer with the following MinimumConfiguration

Pentium 4 class processor running at 2.0 GHz orhigher512MBminimum memory160GBHard drive18"or larger monitor128MBvideo cardCD-RWand/or DVD-R optical drive

b. Scanners

Scanners are of various types. Flat bed scanner isthe most commonly used.

c. Digital camera

A digital camera uses a light sensitive processorchip to capture photographic images in digital formon a small diskette inserted in the camera or onflash memory chips. Digital cameras snap picturesby providing a real digital bit map to read directlyinto application.

3.2 Soft ware

The soft ware required is as follows

HTML editorXML editorOCR softwareImage editorPage layout and design softwarePDF software

OCR:

The most important software is optical characterrecognition. OCR or text recognition is the processof electronically identifying text in a bit mappedpage image or set of images and then creating afile containing that text in ASCII code or inspecified word processing format. OCR isperformed in order to make every word in thescanned documents computer readable and fullysearchable without having to key every thing intothe computer manually. OCR technologysuccessfully permits the reading of documentscontaining a mixture of fonts in different sizes andstyles

Image editor

This program allows saving images in multiple fileformats, resizing images, cropping etc. The bestexample of this software is adobe Photoshop.

PAGE layout and design software. This softwarehas more design features than word processors.Adobe page maker is one of the software availablefor this purpose.

PDF software

PDF is a widely used format .It provides a quickand easy solution for viewing and downloading theonline files. This software is freely available oninternet. This formats popularity can be gaugedfrom the files available on internet.

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Digitization as a Means of Preservation of Manuscripts---- 7th International CALIBER 2009

4. Osmania University

4.1 History and back ground

Osmania University was established in 1918 andthe university library was an integral part of it. In1919 the library was divided into two sections theoccidental and oriental sections with a modestcollection of 2124 and 3313 volumes respectively.The library is working in the present building since3rd August 1963.

4.2 Library system

The present Osmania university library system iscomplex in nature. It consists of University library,seminar libraries and constituent college libraries.Seminar libraries located in the respectivedepartment of various faculties in the universitycampus and constituent college libraries attachedto the colleges.

4.3 Manuscripts available at universitylibrary

University library has a r ich collection ofmanuscripts. The total number of manuscripts is6825. There are two types of manuscripts availablein the library one being paper and the other palmleaf. The manuscripts available are in Sanskrit,Kannada, Tamil, Marathi, Hindi, Arabic, PersianUrdu and Turkish language .The condition of papermanuscripts is better than that of the palm leaf.The manuscripts are preserved in specially madecupboards. There are two fumigation chambersavailable for preservation of manuscripts.. Somemanuscripts which are rare and having artistic valueare;

a. Bhagvata Scroll

This is a 64ft long scroll having width of 4 inches.It has complete text of the 12 Skandhas of SrimadBhagvata.it contains miniature paintings of Ganesa

Saraswathi and the 10 Avatars of Vishnu. Originalcolors are used in this painting.

b. Mahabharata manuscripts :

There are two manuscripts of the Mahabharata oftwo different sizes. Each page contains miniaturepaintings of the characters mentioned in the texton that particular page

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7th International CALIBER 2009 Digitization as a Means of Preservation of Manuscripts----

Osmania University signed a memorandum ofstanding (MOU) with Juma-al-majid centre forculture and heritage, Dubai for digitization ofmanuscripts available at university library. It wasdecided that the total collection of the manuscripts(paper and palm leaf) be digitized.

4.4 Selection Process

It was decided to get the total manuscripts digitized.Firstly the work of paper manuscript was started.The manuscripts which were in deteriorativecondition were given treatment. The palm leavesmanuscripts were mechanically cleaned andcitronella oil was applied to the leaves. This helpedfor getting clear image of the leaf.

4.5 Preparation of Meta Data

A register was maintained for the manuscripts sentfor digitization details of the manuscript such asauthor, title, folios, scribe date etc were noted inthis register

A separate register has been maintained for eachlanguage after which the manuscripts were sent fordigitization. The digitization centre also maintainsMeta data which was filled up in the Performa. Thedigitization process starts with the first image asMeta data of the manuscripts.

Preparation of Meta data for various languages likeSanskrit, Kannada, Arabic, Marathi, and Turkishrequired the help of respective language experts.The multilingual nature of university library hashelped in deciphering of title, author and otherinformation. All the information has been writtenin Roman English. The palm leaf manuscripts haveaccession number mentioned on them. Theauthorship and title can’t be read at the time ofdigitization. There were some complete palm leaf

manuscripts which do not even have accessionnumber. They were also digitized and keptseparately.

4.6 Scanning

The scanning work was done with the use of Sonycyber shot DSC_H5. Digital camera. This cameraoffers a sensor resolution of seven mega pixels alongwith the a new Carl zeiss vario- tessar 12xopticalzoom lens with 58mm threading and super steadyshot optical image stabilization.

The H5 can shot as high as ISO 1000. Thespecifications of camera are as follows:

Sensor 1 / 2.5 “ Type LCD7.2 millionEffective pixels.Image sizes 3072 x 23043072 x 2048 (3:2)2592

x 19442048 x 15361632 x 1224640x 480

File format JPEGLens 36-432 mm equiv12 x opticalzoomCarl zeiss vario-tessar F2. 8-3.7Digital zoom 2 x (24 x total)up to 57 x smart zoom

(dependent on selected resolution)LCD Monitor 3.0 inch TFT230 k pixelsConnectivity USB 2.0 high speed AV outStorage Memory stick duo/ pro duo

compatible32 MB internal memoryPower 2xNIMH batteries AC adapter

(optimal)

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Digitization as a Means of Preservation of Manuscripts---- 7th International CALIBER 2009

The camera was fixed on the Hama professionalcamera stand. The stand has 4 bulbs of 150 wattseach to focus on the image to be digitized. A mirrorwas fixed to check the clarity of the image availablein the camera. Fixing the mirror helped to workeven by sitting on the chair. The manuscripts werekept on the stand and the size of the image wasfixed in the camera. After checking the image inthe mirror, it was captured the number of imagescaptured is limited by the size of the memory ofcamera. The memory card that had been used is of1 GB. When the memory is full the images weretransferred to the computer using the USB datacable. The images of the manuscripts were storedin the computer. Three persons were engaged fordigitization work and a person was dedicated forstoring the images in the computer and for carryingout the OCR. The images were verified and each ofthem was stored.

4.7 Renaming Files

The stored digital images in the computer for eachmanuscript were renamed. Renaming is done byusing the accession number of the manuscript. Dueto non-availability of author and title name,accession number was used for identifying amanuscript.

4.8 Merging files

When the files were ready after renaming, a newfolder was created and the files were merged in thisfolder up to 700MB containing manuscripts varyingfrom 5to 6 in numbers.

4.9 Storage

When the folders containing manuscripts wereready, storage process is started. These manuscriptswere written on CD .A detailed list of contents ofCDs was prepared which act as an index to the cds.

4.10 Availability

The CDs along with the list is been handed over tothe library by the digitization centre. The cds arechecked with the list provided. The manuscriptswill soon be available on web opac. The work hasbeen started. University library is using New GenLib software for its library operations and web opac.The data entry for Sanskrit manuscripts (paper) hasbeen started the availability can be checked bylogging into library’s opac.

5. Future

A new terabyte server has been purchased. The jumaalmajid centre has also provided two hard discs inwhich the total digitized manuscripts are madeavailable. With the use of terra byte server themanuscripts will be available to users via intranet.

References

1. Anderson, cokie g. starting a digitizationcentre. Oxford: chandos publishing, 2004

2 Arms, William y .Digital libraries.London:MITpress, 2000

3. www.sony-asia.com/cybershot.

4. Becker, j The Guts of the Digital libraryinformation technology services maintainingsystem LC. information:262

About Author

Mr. Fazluddin Ahmed, Library Assistant,University Library, Osmania University, AndhraPradeshE-mail: fazaluddinahmed@yahoo.com