The Albert Einstein archives digitization project: opening hidden treasures
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present the organizational and technological processes and strategic choices that led to the successful digitization project of the Albert Einstein Archives.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a case study of the major challenges that were associated with the project. These include: the integration of the archives in the academic environment; the management of a project of such magnitude within the university organization and between different stakeholders and the technological aspects of the project and user experience.
Findings
A digitization project requires not only the archival staff expertise but also information specialists, IT staff, analysts and usually the digitization staff for processing the archival material. Finding the common language between all the professionals involved as well as building a good strategic plan are the keys to a successful project.
Research limitations/implications
The planning and implementation of such a project requires a significant budget, manpower project management, hardware, software and intra- and inter-organizational cooperation and coordination.
Originality/value
The phenomenon of digitizing unique and exclusive archival data by universities is becoming an innovative contribution of hidden goods to the public at large. This paper offers strategic insights for the planning of similar digitizing projects, particularly in an academic environment.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge The Polonsky Foundation; Professor Hanoch Gutfreund; The Einstein Papers Project, at the California Institute of Technology; The Albert Einstein Archive, The Library Authority, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Ardon Bar-Hama.
Citation
Mendelsson, D., Falk, E. and L. Oliver, A. (2014), "The Albert Einstein archives digitization project: opening hidden treasures", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 32 No. 2, pp. 318-335. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-07-2013-0084
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited