Preservation digital reformatting at LC

The Preservation Reformatting Division of the Library of Congress
announces the web release of its first digitizing project, the full
ten-volume set of the periodical Garden and Forest: A Journal of
Horticulture, Landscape Art, and Forestry.  This landmark
publication was the first American journal devoted to horticulture,
botany, landscape design and preservation, national and urban park
development, scientific forestry, and the conservation of forest
resources.  The digital reproduction can be viewed at
<URL:http://lcweb.loc.gov/preserv/prd/gardfor/gfhome.html>

The National Digital Library provided experience and personnel in
the planning and execution of this preservation project.  The
Garden and Forest project is the first Library of Congress
initiative to adapt the use of digital technology to serve the
traditional preservation goals of reformatting deteriorating
originals. Preservation goals and requirements for selection,
completeness, fidelity to the original content and structure, and
cataloging as applied to this digital project are described in the
"Digitizing and Delivery" link from the Garden and Forest site.

New policy information that addresses the integration of digital
technology among the options available for crafting preservation
strategies has also been added to the LC Preservation web site
<URL:http://lcweb.loc.gov/preserv/prd/presdig/presintro.html>

Garden and Forest contains approximately 8,400 pages, including over
1,000 illustrations and 2,000 pages of advertisements.  Each issue
contains articles that are both literary, as well as scholarly and
scientific, and are of interest to readers ranging from curious
amateurs to practicing professionals. It provides practical
information on specific plants as well as horticultural practices,
guidance on the design of gardens, the growth of trees, and the care
and management of public and private grounds.  Many of the articles
are illustrated.  The art work includes line drawings, halftones,
diagrams, plans, botanical illustrations, portraits, and landscapes.
Every issue also contains at least four pages of advertisements that
provide a valuable snapshot of contemporary commercial products,
services, and establishments.

The Preservation Reformatting Division is working collaboratively
with the University of Michigan on the digital conversion and online
delivery of Garden and Forest with the goal of building a foundation
for interoperability with other Making of America digital materials
(see <URL:http://moa.umdl.umich.edu/>).  This has involved
developing a model for phased delivery that allows progressive
additions of features and functionality to be provided by different
parties, over time.  Another collaborative effort with the Arnold
Arboretum of Harvard University has focused on the phased addition
of access and interpretive aids, such as background essays and a
comprehensive subject index; the first historical background essay
is available online with this Phase 1 release.

Please send all comments and questions to lcweb [at] loc__gov.

Irene Schubert, Chief
Preservation Reformatting Division
Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20540
202-707-5918
Fax: 202-707-6449


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 13:40
                 Distributed: Friday, January 14, 2000
                       Message Id: cdl-13-40-012
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