Week 2: A Strong Start

This was my second day at OSU Archives.  The beginning of the day was focused on completing the required Practicum Contract and coming up with an estimated timeline of things to accomplish.  It was a good opportunity to find out exactly what is expected from me.  We also talked about my schedule and I realized that in order to get my hours in, I will have to put in a few Tuesdays or Thursdays for four hours, as needed.  I'm glad I was able to figure that out this early into the practicum!  I hope to complete all of my working hours by November 18 (at the very latest!)


Here is my timeline:

• Week 1: Understanding the organization of materials; training on the lift; introduction to the Polar Collection and Byrd Collection; discussion regarding the need and purpose for the description and inventory of artifacts for public access; learning the camera; discussion of project expectations; begin general duties
• Weeks 2-5: Pull, photograph, describe, upload, and replace in archives stacks 20 items; after 20 items, open collection for public viewing
• Weeks 6-10: Pull, photograph, describe, upload, and replace in archives stacks 25 more items; Dr. Boon's 50-hour visit
• Weeks 11-13: Pull, photograph, describe, upload, and replace in archives stacks 10 more items; finish up the digital collection, wrap up all loose ends

This timeline is definitely not set in stone.  On Wednesday alone, I was able to do 7 items!  There is a large possibility that I will exceed the goals listed above.  Additionally, this is assuming I get around 8 hours a week.  Some weeks may be less, while some weeks may be more.  


As part of the practicum contract, I also made a preliminary outline for my 25-page practicum thesis paper.  Now, this may change drastically as I think about it more and discuss with my advisor, but here is my basic overview/outline:


Introduction:

• Introduce Byrd collection
• Introduce practicum project

Project overview:

• Discuss need for project
• Discuss duties/work
• Discuss final outcome

Topic- The need for digital access in archives:

• What kind of digital access?
• What sort of collections/institutions?
• Requirements for digital access
• Advantages
• Disadvantages

Conclusion:

• Why is this so important?
• How can institutions benefit?
• What is the future of digital access to archival collections?

I think it will make for a very good paper.  (I hope!)  There are many things I'm coming across during this project that I have read about in articles and books, but feel different now that I'm actually experiencing it.  For example, I know that items that have been digitized lose some of its intrinsic value and can be difficult to appreciate in different aspects.  One of the items that I did this week was a HUGE fur sleeping bag.  It was around 8 feet long!  The fur was heavy, warm, and amazingly shiny.  You could tell that it had been different parts of the animal, because the fur was different colors and textures.  But, when it was photographed and posted online, it lost a lot of the texture and color.  Also, it was difficult to really appreciate its size in the photo.  This struck me as something so obvious, but something I had not really considered prior to this project.  In my paper, I hope to dissect many of these advantages, disadvantages, and general information when it comes to applying a digital access project to a collection of artifacts.


Next Wednesday I will not do my practicum, as I will be on Vacation.  I will make up some hours Thursday afternoon, however, and will try to make up more hours the following week.




In: 8:00 a.m.
Lunch:  12:45 - 1:15 p.m.
Out: 5:00 p.m.
On-site hours completed today: 8.5
On-site hours completed total: 15.25
On-site hours left: 84.75