Digitization of a 442-Year-Old German Manuscript at the Libraries Tech Center

Join Digitization Program Manager Amy McCrory as she demonstrates the process of carefully digitizing a 442-year-old German language manuscript from The Ohio State University's Rare Books & Manuscripts Library.

[@BTarpley805]

This was INCREDIBLY interesting, thank you! Our family has a family bible dating back to 1777 Colonial Virginia, and I'd like to have it examined/preserved, but some of the writings are faded/not clearly visible. What are the current techniques for recovering "lost" writings? We live in CA now, but would consider bringing it anywhere in the US to someone that would help, BC our family doesn't otherwise have the means to cover forensic level document recovery 🤣

[@ronaldmcbridge228]

It would be helpful if you can share the software and equipment you are using to digitize these books and manuscripts. I have so many manuscripts that I am currently digitizing from my collection and I am currently using opensource software to digitize them.

[@OhioStateLibraries]

Hello, Ronald! Here's a response from our digitization program manager, Amy McCrory:
"We use a Phase One iXG camera with a 100 megapixel digital back and a 72mm Schneider Kreuznach lens. The software is Capture One, which can be used with many brands of camera, including Phase One, Canon, Sony, Nikon, Fuji and more. Capture One supports live view--allowing the user to preview and focus images onscreen--along with image capture, profiling and efficient batch processing. The lights are Profoto Acute D4 strobe flashes.
I'll add that the system I use at work would be well beyond my budget for personal gear. At home I use an Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II. Software is Olympus Capture (for live preview) and Olympus Workspace (for editing). I also do some batch processing with the great, free, community-supported IfranView software program. For lighting I use Nanlite panels."

[@joyphobic]

@@OhioStateLibraries thanks!

[@DrVickyJo]

I'm surprised that you aren't wearing gloves to handle the book? I thought that oils from human fingers were very destructive to such materials, so I found this puzzling. Any comment?

[@OhioStateLibraries]

Excellent question! We asked Amy, and here's what she had to say:
"Recommendations on whether to wear gloves when handling rare and fragile materials have changed over the years among conservators, digitization specialists, and other cultural heritage professionals. Gloves are recommended for some items--nitrile gloves when handling photographic prints or metal objects, for instance--and discouraged for others. In most cases, gloves are no longer recommended for handling books and paper items. They reduce manual dexterity and sensitivity, which can lead to damage. For example, a glove can snag the edge of a fragile page, causing it to tear. Rather than wear gloves, we wash our hands thoroughly with soap and water before working with books, manuscripts, and other works on paper. We never use hand sanitizer, though, as it can leave a residue.
You can read more in this article from International Preservation News: www.loc.gov/preservation/about/faqs/ipnn37.pdf
Or watch this video from the British Library: www.bl.uk/help/using-gloves-with-books-and-manuscripts#"

[@vincentlefebvre4100]

Hi, what is she doing at 1:56 with the thread ? Thank you.

[@Jbenneballe]

it's called a plumb-line. and she use it to make sure the page is centered to the camera.

[@joshuaprime2042]

No reason to have a mask for voiceovers. It was hard to understand. Germs cannot spread through the internet