Penn State University Libraries - Files

Specifications for archival files

The following are the minimum requirements for vendors and staff to use when digitizing materials for Penn State Libraries' digital projects (these mimic the best practices given by the Digital Library Federation).

Text:

Text-only or with line drawings:  600 dpi 1-bit TIFFs, ITU-4 compression.
Text with black-and-white illustrations:  300 dpi 8-bit grayscale TIFFs, no compression.
Text with color illustrations or backgrounds:  300 dpi 24-bit color TIFFs, no compression.

Images: 300 dpi 24-bit color TIFFs, no compression.

Audio: WAV, no compression.

Video:  AVI, no compression.

Specifications for online images

Text: The smallest text on any page should be legible on-screen.

Maps: maps will appear on the CONTENTdm image server as JPEG2000 files.  Additionally, the original archival TIFF, a SID file (when available), and a 150-dpi JPEG can be made available for patrons to download.

Filenaming recommendations

Filenames should be identifiable with the original item, unique, persistent (never changes once assigned) and consecutive. 

• Whenever the original item has an OCLC number or ISBN assigned to it, use that as the base of the filename. 
• It is not recommended to use the LIAS number from the MARC record, as the LIAS number may change over time.
  
  

Otherwise, use a shortened/abbreviated version of the project title and the item title to serve as the unique identifier.