The plan to scan: digitizing out-of-copyright publications

A year ago today, Library and Archives Canada (LAC) embarked on an ambitious project in collaboration with Internet Archive Canada (IAC) to digitize a collection of up to 80,000 out-of-copyright publications from 1322 to 1920. This project was born out of a merging of mandate and mission: preserving Canada’s documentary heritage and making it freely accessible for all. It’s the motivation behind our dedicated imaging technicians every single day on the job.

“What I enjoy most about working on this project is that our team is playing an important role in preserving historical knowledge and cultural heritage. Digitizing these texts makes them easily accessible to the public today and for future generations, and I’m proud to be a part of that.”

Allison Sharpe, Imaging Technician, Preservation & Digitization Branch, LAC

In the public domain

A publication protected by copyright gives exclusive legal right to its author that lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. After this time, the work is out-of-copyright (or in the public domain), meaning it can be copied, shared, or used by anyone without needing permission. But what good is having a book in the public domain if it’s been out of print for centuries or is tucked away in a vault? Hence this ambitious project.

Here are a few gems discovered by LAC imaging technician Chelsey McBride:

  • Stories Selected from the History of England, a book of short stories for children from the 1800s. Among its stories, the one about Bloody Mary caught her eye. It was more like a horror story than a bedtime tale. How children’s literature has changed!
  • Palmistry for All: Containing new information on the study of the hand never before published was written by Cheiro (William John Warren), who was known for making predictions for famous people.
  • The Romance of the Beaver: Being the History of the Beaver in the Western Hemisphere by A. Radclyffe Dugmore. This delightful book features adorable pictures of real beavers and the incredible dams they build.

We have the team, they have the equipment

Digitizing out-of-copyright publications is more complex than simply photocopying a book page at your local print shop. It requires expertise and specialized tools. At LAC’s Collections Storage Facility in Gatineau, six trained imaging technicians use the Scribe digitizing workstation. This sophisticated piece of technology was designed and developed by Internet Archive engineers.

The Scribe features a large glass plate that holds the book at a 110-degree angle to minimize stress on the binding. Two overhead cameras capture simultaneous images as the technician lowers the glass with a pedal-operated pulley system. The software then assembles the book as it is scanned. On average, technicians can scan 350 to 450 pages per hour, though some publications may be too damaged to digitize.

“One of the biggest challenges in digitizing older publications is working with the book in a way that respects its condition. Some books are fragile, so preservation is our top priority. We always strive to use our best knowledge and explore new methods and ideas to digitize these books carefully, ensuring they are not harmed in the process.”

Chelsey McBride, Imaging Technician, Preservation & Digitization Branch, LAC

Since the project began in February 2024, over 10,847 books have been digitized, generating a total of 2,502,272 images. Once the project is completed, up to 80,000 books will be made freely accessible online starting in the spring.

Stay tuned! It promises to be a real page-turner.

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