Digitisation is the process of creating a digital copy of an original object. For the New Forest Knowledge project, we are scanning and photographing our documents and objects, and converting audio and video tapes to digital files. There are many reasons for digitisation, including for preservation, sharing and discovery…
Preservation
By digitising our historical documents, some of which are fragile or light-sensitive, we are helping to preserve them for future generations. In many cases, digital copies will be able to be viewed in place of the original, therefore saving them from damage through excessive handling and use.
Sharing
Once objects are digitised, we can share them with the wider public. Items can be uploaded to our website and social media so that researchers all over the world can make use of them. It is not uncommon for the Library to get research enquiries from the USA! On our website, users will be able to share their finds with friends, family and colleagues and when knowledge is shared it can lead to…
Discovery
When information is shared, new discoveries and connections can be made which help to develop our knowledge of an object and its story. The New Forest Knowledge website will be able to showcase those discoveries we have already made, and allow users to make new discoveries!
Can you help us discover more?
These are a couple of photographs from our collections—but we don’t know who or where they are! Can you help? Do you recognise a place or a familiar face? If you think you can give us any more information about these, or any of our other photographs, please get in touch. You can pop into the library on a Wednesday (10am-4pm) or Friday (10am-12.30pm), call us on 02380 286150, or you can email library@newforestcentre.org.uk.
We’d love to hear from you!
