DOME Project Planning Template - Alternate Format
Title of Project |
Kepes-Lynch ?? |
Date of template (last revision) |
March 11, 2008 |
Submitted by: name(s) & contact information |
Whiteside: awhites@ |
Sponsoring Library/Libraries |
Rotch and Institute Archives |
Abstract (1-2 sentences) |
The Kepes-Lynch project is comprised of documentation created by Kevin Lynch and Gyorgy Kepes in preparation for the book "The Image of the City". The photographs that Kevin Lynch and Gyorgy Kepes took of the streets of the city of Boston in the 1960s, along with the field notes taken while doing the project document the process they used to gather information from people on the street about their impressions of city streets and the environment the streets create. The photographs illustrate people in the environment at a particular time; the field notes document the process of the project. |
I. PROJECT CONCEPT |
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A. DESCRIPTION |
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Goals of project. including desired end-product for users and MIT Libraries. |
The goals are to make available and accessible the photographs and written documentation about the project to document the city of Boston in the 1960s. We want to serve the photographs up as jpegs, at ca. 1500 ppi and thumbnail images for reference in the search process. We want to serve the written content as PDF page images. One document that is 5 pages can be one file, and not five different files. The Kepes-Lynch collection should be presented as its own collection within DOME, with the availability to search across this collection and others. Each digital object should be able to stand alone, so that in the future it may be reused for other exhibits, while still maintaining a relationship with the other objects being digitized from the Kevin Lynch collection or the Kepes-Lynch Photograph Collection. We want user to be able to search the collection, and browse the collection by format (documents, drawings, photographs), or by subject (project documents, pilot test, areas of the city, office interviews, asking directions, etc.) Each subject will include related documents, transcripts, drawings, and photographs. Objects may fit into more than one category. When an item is selected, a pdf of the scanned documents will come up and there will be links (or thumbnails) to additional related materials (maps, photographs, and documentation about the project). |
Description of content. Subject and significance of content, relationship to scope and other collections of MIT Libraries, whether the content was produced at MIT, and if the content is unique. |
The Kepes-Lynch collection is a group of photographs and field notes that document Boston in the 1950s and 1960s prior to urban renewal. Gyorgy Kepes and Kevin Lynch worked together to document neighborhoods in Boston, providing a moment in the life of the city of Boston, during a time when the concept of urban renewal was at its height in city planning. The field notes in the Institute Archives describe the early steps of the project; progress reports and plans; plans and instructions for field interviews; field interviews and summaries; direction inquiries and accompanying report; and maps that describe the results of the field interviews. Together, this constitutes a primary source collection that describe methodology in city planning thinking by a major urban planner who was affiliated with MIT. |
Spatial extent of content. Number of pieces / units and growth rates as well as other indicators of scale (e.g. file sizes). |
Ca. 1,800 black and white photographs. We will want these digitized at 600 dpi for TIFF images. Derivatives would also be made for patron use. |
Temporal extent of content. Span of years covered. |
1950s - 1960s |
Rights and/or source of content, if known. Planned restrictions if any on distribution or access to digital versions in DOME; if permissions will be needed, have been granted, etc. |
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B. JUSTIFICATION |
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Anticipated audience(s) for content. Include curricular or research needs that will be served; or benefits to audiences beyond MIT. |
This documentation is primary source material for those studying urban planning, and Boston in particular. Providing digital access to the materials will allow those at MIT to have ready access to content that most people are unaware of. Kevin Lynch was appointed instructor in city planning at MIT in 1948, assistant professor in 1949, associate professor in 1955, and professor in 1963. Lynch influenced the field of city planning through his work on the theory of city form, and on the perception of the city environment and its consequences for city design; he was one of the major "urban thinkers" of the 20th century. This year is also the 75th anniversary of the Department of Urban Studies and Planning; making this content available would be an excellent tie between the Libraries and DUSP. |
Anticipated benefits of digitization. (e.g. search, access, manipulation) |
At the moment, the only was to access this content is to go to both Rotch Library and the Institute Archives. Digitizing the content will put all of it in one place, which will allow users to see the photographs in context with the field notes, providing an intellectual tie that is currently physically impossible when the photographs and the fields ntoes are in separate buildings. |
Is original content at risk or obsolete? |
Information is coming |
C. FUNDING |
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Funding: is funding available now, what amounts; what are additional or likely sources of funding? |
The Libraries have funding from the Provost to support projects like this for 2008. |
Funding: . If no funding has been secured, where might funding be found? |
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D. SPECIFICATIONS |
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If analog, who manufactured this material? |
All the content was developed by Kevin Lynch and Gyorgy Kepes. The condition of the photographs is good. There is no preparation necessary for the photographs. |
If already digitized, technical specifications for digital version; quality/condition as of today; should analog and digital be linked in some way. |
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If born digital, technical specifications; quality condition as of today? What standards/best practices were used? |
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E. METADATA |
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Does the project come with descriptive metadata? |
No. |
Does the project come with technical metadata? |
No. |
Does the project come with administrative metadata? |
No. |
Does the project come with preservation metadata? |
No. |
Can the metadata be migrated? |
N/A |
Does the metadata conform to best practices? |
N/A |
F. ACCESS / USABILITY |
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Will the content interoperate with our systems? |
Yes. We are already delivering images and text documents. |
Proposed features and delivery requirements |
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Format |
Photographs: 600 ppi; TIFF files |
Data |
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Access |
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Usability |
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Other comments |
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II. PROJECT REQUIREMENTS |
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A. Steps needed to produce product |
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B. Feasibility of each step in terms of: |
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C. Can project be carried out in stages? |
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D. Does project build on previous or concurrent work |
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E. What new capabilities are required |
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F. Could these capabilities benefit other projects |
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G. Sustainability requirements for: curation, technical support, addition of new content, development of new tools |
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H. Other requirements |
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