/ Case Studies Heritage Digitisation
Wiley Digital Archives - British Association for the Advancement of Science (BAAS) Collection
Multi-site digitisation of distributed academic and scientific archives
Microform was engaged by Wiley Digital Archives to support the digitisation of the British Association for the Advancement of Science collection.
This large-scale, multi-institution project brought together dispersed scientific archives from leading UK universities and special collections, including the University of Manchester, University College London, King's College London, Imperial College London, and the University of Glasgow.
The material spans more than 150 years of scientific development and includes correspondence, manuscripts, notebooks, reports, and organisational records.
/ The Challenge
How do you deliver consistent digitisation across numerous institutions, with different material formats, archival conditions, and levels of organisation, while producing uniform outputs for a single digital research platform?
Distributed archive complexity
The BAAS collection combined multi-site delivery with varied material types and differing archival conditions. Consistency of quality and output was essential to ensure that dispersed archives could be integrated into a single digital resource.
- Digitisation coordinated across numerous institutions and locations
- Formats included bound volumes, loose papers, and notebooks
- Condition ranged from stable documents to fragile manuscript material
- Organisation and cataloguing varied between collections
Mobile heritage capture approach
Microform deployed a mobile heritage digitisation solution to carry out capture on site across all contributing institutions, ensuring each collection could be handled appropriately within its own environment.
- Pre-digitisation assessment of condition and format at each location
- High-resolution cultural heritage capture systems for accurate reproduction
- Capture of both single-page and multi-page content with consistent framing and clarity
- Standardised file naming structure and hierarchy across all sites
Preservation-led handling
Controlled handling techniques were applied throughout the project to protect fragile materials while maintaining efficient delivery across a distributed programme.
- Bindings supported at all times
- Restricted opening angles used where required
- Non-invasive capture methods to avoid stress on materials
- Consistent workflows maintained across all institutions
/ Long-term benefits
Multi-site coordination
Distributed collections were digitised to a unified standard across all locations.
Mobile on-site delivery
Microform's heritage capture model enabled work within each contributing institution.
Preservation-aware workflows
Fragile and mixed-format materials were handled carefully throughout the programme.
Research-ready outputs
Standardised digital files supported integration into a single Wiley resource.
/ Outcome
Microform successfully delivered a high-quality, standardised digital archive across all contributing institutions. The project unified previously dispersed scientific archives into a single structured resource, now accessible through Wiley Digital Archives for search, discovery, and academic research.