Step one:
We have received 6 flyers from a private collection from the 1980s Bowling Green reggae band Groovemaster. Each are scanned cropped and given an identification number. Because the donor's last name is Nemeth and the object is a flier the identification number starts Nemeth-FL and the last part of the identification number is the date associated with the object.
Step Two:
The object cropped and identified. We know from our ever expanding NOICA directory of regional artists, events, and venues that Easy Street Café in Bowling Green, Ohio used to be called Soft Rock Café (but changed its name after a lawsuit from Hard Rock Café. I contacted members of Groovemaster to confirm their band history, which is they operated in the Bowling Green, Ohio area from 1987-1991 and members included Damon Arterbridge, Linda Gurney, Jose Luna (also of Satan Tortilla), Bruce MacLaughlin, Don Morrow, Mike Nemeth, Gaylord Richardson, and Julie Richardson and that the band included black, female, and latin members. This information is helpful in ensuring as many groups as possible in the community are being represented.
For this first flier, because the flier states the day of the week, Wednesday, and the date of the month, February 8th, we can locate the year. We know Groovemaster performed between 1987-1991 and the only time February 8th fell on a wednesday between those years is 1989, so our identification number is Nemeth-FL-08021989.
Step Three:
Now that the image is ready, and we have the metadata for it, it is time to upload it to the BGSU Jerome Library database, Omeka.
After the file is uploaded we begin the process of entering the metadata. Aside from researching the subject and verifying the history, this is the longest part of the process.
This object has 33 separate entries of data. It is a long process that takes time, but is important to make sure the object is easily searchable, contains all appropriate information for researchers, and that the coding is correct.
Step Four:
After the metadata is enter and the file is uploaded we double check the entry before publishing the item.
Step Five:
Now that we have checked all the data it is time to publish to the BGSU Libraries Digital Gallery.
Notice that most of the metadata is a hyperlink so that researchers can click names, dates, artists, and other information that is connected to the entire BGSU digital gallery so that anyone can easily continue to learn about artists, bands, venues, geographic spaces, and moments in time.
The published page also has an extended biography of the artist and venue the event occurred.
Further Steps:
Now that our object is uploaded to the digital gallery we can now add further context by using it in a digital exhibit, such as this one on women musicians in the Northwest Ohio region.
Once we have finished creating a digital gallery and published it researchers can learned about social groups and genres related to the initial object.
