Treasures of SOAS in SOAS Digital Collections
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Material Information

Title:
Treasures of SOAS in SOAS Digital Collections 2017 – Use and Actions
Creator:
Kesse, Erich J., 1959-
Place of Publication:
[London]
Publisher:
SOAS University of London
Publication Date:
Language:
English
Physical Description:
31 p. : 31 cm

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
University of London. School of Oriental and African Studies. Library ( LCNAF )
SOAS University of London. Library
Spatial Coverage:
Europe -- United Kingdom -- England -- Greater London -- London -- Camden -- Bloomsbury
Coordinates:
51.507222 x -0.129

Notes

Abstract:
One of the objectives of the digitisation programme at SOAS has been to mount in SOAS Digital Collections (https://digital.soas.ac.uk/) items exhibited or considered for exhibition at SOAS. This included retrospectively mounting the catalogue of Objects of Instruction : the Treasures of SOAS, some of which had a place in the SOAS Digital Archives, the predecessor of SOAS Digital Collections. The exhibition catalogue (https://digital.soas.ac.uk/LOAA005727/) and the individual items listed where mounted in 2015. -- One of the challenges mounting an exhibition catalogue, or, in supporting any exhibition, is completion or, rather, the lack of it. Exhibitions display exemplars in cases and behind frames. In a digital library, mounting exhibition images generates demand for access to the item, in its entirety, from which exemplars have been chosen. It was subsequently agreed, during meetings of the Library’s Digital Library Working Group (DLWG), Archives & Special Collections (ASC) and Teaching & Research Services (TRS), that we would digitise complete items as need arose or digitisation resource allowed. -- Secondary challenges to this goal arose in the forms of cataloguing and conservation. Cataloguing was a minor problem. Some of the exhibited items lacked machine readable catalogue records, notwithstanding excellent entries in the exhibition’s catalogue. Conservation has been the greater challenge. The exhibition catalogue prominently features the Anvār-i Suhaylī (MS 10102) – truly a treasure. The Anvār-I’s thick, tight binding and its mounting of illustrations make digitisation unthinkable without conservation. In 2016, Christine Wise brought about a collaboration with the Camberwell School who conservation programme agreed to take two of the exhibition’s Ethiopic titles. They’ve returned in wonderfully restored Coptic bindings. They lay flat, with no challenge to digitisation. Other conservation challenges remain.

Record Information

Source Institution:
SOAS University of London
Holding Location:
SOAS University of London
Rights Management:
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