Assessment:Costs

Click here for instructions on collecting/contributing data to the Digitization Cost Calculator

In 2014 the Cost Assessment working group developed a beta version of a Library Digitization Cost Calculator to assist organizations in estimating the costs for digitizing collections and initiate a conversation at the 2014 DLF Forum around cost assessment in digital libraries. In spring of 2014, the Cost Assessment working group of the DLF Assessment Interest Group was founded. This group was tasked with drafting best practices and guidelines for the collection of time data for various digitization processes, which will be used to standardize collection of such data in the field as well as to guide data submissions to the Digital Cost Calculator. The guidelines and definitions are organized according to some of the typical stages of a library project. See the bottom of the page for a full list of processes for which the calculator will be able to provide data.

In August 2015, the group produced wire frames showing the planned interface and functionality of the Digitization Cost Calculator 2.0, as well as wireframes of how results would appear.

In September 2015, the group released a call for data submissions using the new guidelines and a new data submission form. The Digitization Cost Calculator 2.0 cannot be built until at least one set of data has been contributed in each of the 20 categories listed in the guidelines.

In 2016, the group is working to solicit enough data contributions to build a functional digitization cost calculator 2.0. This means we need at least one set of data in each of the 20 categories, as well as for each type of image capture device and for each level of metadata creation and quality control.

Help us by submitting data here!

If you are interested in helping us collect data for the Digitization Cost Calculator, please join our Digital Library Assessment Google Group and speak up!

See the cost assessment bibliography produced by the Cost Assessment working group here:

• Cost Assessment Bibliography

2014-2015 Members of the Cost Assessment Working Group

• Joyce Chapman, Duke University, (coordinator)
• Kinza Masood, University of Utah
• Chrissy Rissmeyer, University of California Santa Barbara
• Dan Zellner, Northwestern University

2016-2017 Members of the Cost Assessment Working Groups

• Joyce Chapman, Duke University, (coordinator)
• Jane Davis, Saint Louis Federal Reserve Bank
• Ann Hanlon, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
• Kinza Masood, University of Utah
• Genya O'Gara, VIVA
• Chrissy Rissmeyer, University of California Santa Barbara
• Sarah Severson, McGill University Library
• Emily Shaw, Ohio State University Libraries
• Dan Zellner, Northwestern University

Processes for which the calculator will provide data (and for which we are collecting data!)

• Preparation of original materials
  • Condition review
  • Disbinding
  • Fastener removal
  • Flattening
  • Rights review
  • Sorting materials into items
  • Supporting
  • Unique identifier assignment
• Image capture
  • Film or transparency scanner
  • Flatbed scanner
  • Manual DSLR camera
  • Medium format camera
  • Overhead scanner
  • Sheet feeding scanner
• Quality control
  • Level 1, 2, and 3
• Descriptive metadata creation
  • Level 1, 2, and 3
• Post-processing
  • Alignment/rotation
  • Background removal
  • Clean up / dust removal
  • Color correction and tonal adjustments
  • Cropping images
  • Stitching
• Post-preparation
  • De-sorting
  • Re-binding
  • Re-fastening

---

Back to the Assessment home page