The University of Kentucky Libraries Preservation and Digital Programs (UKPDP), as the sole awardee to manage the NDNP process in-house, has developed a detailed understanding of and intimacy with the entire spectrum of processes involved with film-to-digital conversion. (To learn more about how we got to this point, read about ky-ndnp)

Our unique position has allowed KY-NDNP to be an active participant on the NDNP discussion list and engage in networking with other awardees to foster wide-ranging ideas to propel the program forward. Perhaps most notably, we host meta|morphosis: a university of kentucky film-to-digital institute. Born from lessons learned during the NDNP Test Bed period (Phase One), it is an annual symposium that covers microfilm basics, scanning, including scanning from microfilm; evaluating scanners, metadata ins-and-outs along with problem-solving issues; infrastructure and production needs; film, newspaper, and imaging evaluation; building an RFP, making good microfilm products, and a host of hands-on exercises. By its third year, meta|morphosis attendance had become a requirement for some new NDNP awardees.

We've recently branched out into the Web 2.0 social networking world with our KY-NDNP Blog and KY-NDNP facebook group. Everyone is encouraged to participate in both locations. The more conversation, the better.

Just as KY-NDNP Phase One was ramping up, UKPDP brokered a partnership with iArchives, also known as Footnote, to license their software application framework and management database. This allowed us to seamlessly create, through a series of quality controlled processes, digital deliverables from the ingestion of uncompressed TIFF images to the fully valid NDNP deliverables. This was a unique and unexpected opportunity to use software purpose-built for the film-to-digital conversion process and saved us from reinventing the wheel, so to speak.

UKPDP's relationship with iArchives has proven to be a wonderful collaboration. We share insights, solve problems, and develop new solutions. UKPDP personnel often contribute to the refinement of the software by customizing features to suit NDNP objectives. That expertise has allowed UKPDP to make not only a substantial contribution to the development of NDNP, but also to establish the University of Kentucky as a leader for other institutions to emulate as they undertake their own film-to-digital conversion projects including active participation in future phases of NDNP.