Core Webinar - Best of Core Forum: Improving Preservation and Metadata Practices for Better Digital Projects; Streamlining a Workflow Preparing Collections for Digitization

CHICAGO—Join Core for the webinar "Best of Core Forum: Improving Preservation and Metadata Practices for Better Digital Projects: Streamlining a Workflow Preparing Collections for Digitization" on July 22, 2025, at 1 p.m. CT. The session will discuss ongoing work to streamline a workflow for preparing collections for digitization. In managing the digitization workflow, preservation staff noted that substantial time was spent on resolving vendor and staff questions caused by lack of sufficient detail in the minimal metadata spreadsheets prepared pre-digitization. At the same time, digitization projects were experiencing setbacks when condition issues with the original material were not addressed early enough in the project. It became apparent that improved metadata and preservation planning would result in a more efficient workflow overall. Streamlining the workflow has also facilitated goals beyond meeting the requirements for successful digitization. Revisiting pre-digitization metadata creation has helped ensure that this work aligns with digital collections metadata requirements, thereby improving the usefulness of the spreadsheets beyond managing digitization. Revising the workflow also offered a chance to incorporate basic preservation activities and advocate for larger improvements for the original material as part of digitization projects. The webinar will discuss the collaboration between departments in Preservation and Cataloging & Metadata Services to improve the digitization workflow as well as how lessons learned continue to revise the workflow.

This webinar was previously presented in-person as a session at the 2024 Core Forum. We are hosting this webinar, with the session adapted and presented live as a virtual event, to extend its reach.

Best of Core Forum: Improving Preservation and Metadata Practices for Better Digital Projects: Streamlining a Workflow Preparing Collections for Digitization
Live Webinar: Tuesday, July 22, 2025, 1 - 2 p.m. CT

Presenters:

Melanie Wacker, Head of Digital Resources Metadata, Columbia University Libraries, New York, NY
Morgan Adams, Mellon Conservator for Special Collections, Columbia University Libraries, New York, NY
Brianna Gormly, Assistant Director for Preservation Reformatting and Metadata, Columbia University Libraries, New York, NY

Registration Fees:

Core Member: $57.67
ALA Member: $71.10
Nonmember: $79.00

How Do I Purchase Group Registration?

You can register a group by specifying the number of people who will be accessing the webinar during checkout. We offer webinars discounts based on the number of registrations you specify at checkout. If you are a Core member, you can purchase seats for yourself and your colleagues at the Core discount rate; ALA's new e-Learning store allows you to extend Core member savings to colleagues at your institution.

Can't attend the live event? No problem! All registrants will receive a link to the recorded session for later viewing at their convenience.

Register online or by phone at 1-800-545-2433 (press 1 to reach our customer service representatives).

For questions or comments related to Core webinars, please contact Core staff at corece@ala.org.

About Core

Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures is the national association that advances the profession of librarians and information providers in central roles of leadership and management, collections and technical services, and technology. Our mission is to cultivate and amplify the collective expertise of library workers in core functions through community building, advocacy, and learning. Core is a division of the American Library Association. Follow us on our Blog, Instagram and LinkedIn.