Sustaining a digital collection

Purpose – Aims to provide an overview of methods for digitizing maps, the creation and preservation of a digital collection, interoperable database construction, and an examination of the real costs associated with maintaining a digital collection. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is an examination of the tools, metadata choices, work with Open Archives Initiative (OAI) research projects, and sustainability costs, associated with a digital project of 946 dynamic historic cartographic images. Findings – The Early Washington Maps project demonstrates how multiple tools may be integrated and interoperability between databases achieved. Realistic costs associated with digital collections and practical reference techniques are described. Practical implications – This is an extremely common-sense discussion of digital library issues for library professionals planning or enhancing digital collections. Originality/value – The paper describes ideas for enhancing access to digital collections during and after a grant award