Creating a digital archive can be a daunting prospect. We know from experience that there can be several stages of research and planning prior to a digitisation project commencing. These stages play a vital role in ensuring that any subsequent project gets off to the best possible start. On occasion the research may even conclude that digitisation is not the most appropriate approach, or that it is part of a wider strategy that is contingent on other areas of development. This is before any funding avenues are explored.
Archive Consultancy Services
Archive Consultancy Services
At Max we are always on the lookout for innovation; for opportunities to work closely with partners to ensure the best outcomes for our customers; to provide access to expertise that might otherwise be difficult to locate. Consultancy services are an important part of this, especially at the exploratory stages of an ambitious and previously uncharted initiative.
Of course many of our customers already have colleagues in-house to call upon, as well as a body of personal experience and expertise that means they are well-placed to make these assessments. However this isn’t true for everyone. For some it can be hard to know where to start; to know what questions to ask; to understand which pitfalls to avoid, which opportunities to prioritise, and how best to plan so that important considerations are not missed.
With this in mind, we have entered into a collaborative arrangement with two of the UK Heritage sector’s most experienced consultants for archive management services: David Mander and Sarah Wickham. Please visit David’s and Sarah’s pages for an introduction to how they can help. They would be delighted to hear you.
Testimonials
I have worked with Max Communications and the team for some years. In recent work with their Archivematica iteration in the College Archives and Corporate Records Unit, and other digital work required by varying cohorts in Imperial, Max Communications have been responsive, innovative and demonstrated great problem-solving abilities. The Max Communications team, from the top down, is approachable, friendly and keen to help.
An example is in their engagement for some major confidential scanning projects. The projects were discussed, scoped and agreed to a high standard of hand scanning. Benchmarking was agreed to our satisfaction when the project started, with a fast progress time for the work. They provided rapid access to files, including digitising out of sequence, e.g. one such turn around for hand scanning, editing and proofing a large file was within 3 hours. The digital delivery was by secure online transfer, and the hard disks and hard copy delivered securely by courier.
On a lighter note, digitisation of 1960s academic cine film was carried out promptly and to a high standard, such that it can be reshown at a major conference
--Anne Barrett | College Archivist & Corporate Records Manager | Imperial College London