The Unnetie Digitisation Project: Enthusiasm and Persistence Master Limited Resources

Abstract

In this paper, a practice-based project which resulted in a new library resource is described. The UK North Yorkshire County Council Libraries, Archives and Arts had possessed a valuable and unique photographic archive for a considerable period of time. Digitisation appeared to offer a route to wider exploitation of this resource, but the Library Service lacked expertise in the process of digitisation and in acquiring project funding. The experience described in this paper demonstrates how practitioners who find themselves in this situation can still overcome the barriers they face, can access and utilise research and development knowledge from the wider profession, and can in so doing learn new skills and acquire knowledge which are capable of being applied more widely. The project thus provides a case study of practitioner based research and development.