Dalhousie University Records Management Manual
The Digital Collections Handbook can support the digitization of approved University records. The Handbook helps meet requirements defined in the "Electronic Records as Documentary Evidence" standard published by the Canadian General Standards Board (CAN/CGSB-72.34-2017).
Introduction
- Dalhousie Libraries works with external service providers to digitize analog and digital audiovisual items (e.g., U-matic, Betacam, VHS, DAT). Procurement of digitization services is guided by the University's Procurement Policy.
- The Libraries typically outsources audiovisual digitization on a project basis, using project management principles and best practices. Procurement of external audiovisual digitization services requires a project charter with defined goals and objectives, a designated Project Manager, and a project team with defined roles and responsibilities.
- Vendors digitize AV items in small and medium-sized batches, but the overall workflow is more like a high-volume "factory" operation described in the International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives Guidelines for the Preservation of Video Recordings (IASA-TC 06, Part D, Section D.1.1.2).
- External digitization jobs often include a variety of formats. For example, a shipment containing videocassettes may also include audio reels and 16 mm film reels.
- Audiovisual items are often found within multimedia archival fonds that include textual records, photographs, and other material that is normally digitized in-house. See other sections of the Digital Collections Handbook as necessary.
- Audiovisual items cannot be digitized through the Libraries' Archives Document Delivery Service.