Library setup to make archiving a snap

A new archiving station has been acquired by the local library, allowing the public access to digital scanning services free of charge.

Irene Ingle Public Library was able to purchase its Knowledge Imaging Center largely through use of a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Librarian Margaret Villarma explained the versatile system makes digital archiving very simple, and is easy on original materials. Documents are placed open, facing upward, and a digital scanner overhead takes a picture. The station's software automatically separates and collates individual pages, which can then be reorganized and edited using an easy-to-read touchscreen. The software also automatically adjusts for the natural curvature of bound books, meaning they don't need to be pressed down upon to be readable.

"One of the things that's nice about it is you can put a book on it without crushing the spine," Villarma said. As a result, the station becomes an ideal way to copy fragile documents, such as a scrapbook or antique newspapers.

Users can also alter settings using the touchscreen, adjusting color, lighting and several levels of resolution before converting it into a transferrable file. Images can be converted into a variety of formats, including rich text, audio files, JPG, PNG and PDF files. These can then be saved directly to a USB thumbdrive, conveyed by file transfer protocol, or else emailed back to the user.

Villarma said the KIC system had first come to the library's attention two years ago at a state conference. A grant application was put together and submitted to IMLS last summer. IMLS grants have in the past supported other resources for Wrangell's library, from new computers and printers to its microfilm reader, and new shelving.

The library in September received a grant of $4,500 for the KIC, the remaining cost for which was picked up by the Friends of the Library, which supplied $718. Run by community members, the Friends raises money to support library programs and projects such as this through fundraisers and raffles, like the annual Alaska Airlines ticket raffle.

"That's just one of the things we use the money for, things like that," said Villarma.

The imaging system was ordered and arrived in November, and was set up in a room next to the library's conference room, just past the restrooms. The assembly and installation were pretty straightforward, and took only a phone call with the company to set up.

"It took a bit of time to get it formatted," explained Sarah Scambler, library assistant. "It wasn't difficult."

The system has also been hooked up to a printer, so hard copies can be made directly at the station, subject to the library's printing rates.

In all, Villarma felt the acquisition would be of benefit to the community, particularly for those needing to scan copies for research or wanting to preserve family photo collections. She was also in contact with the Wrangell Museum, which may also find it useful for its own archival work.

"We got it for the public to use," Scambler explained.

The station is available to book at the library's front desk during regular hours, similar to signing up for time on its computers or its conference room.