Internet-based image collection introduced

By Susan Green

Creating digital slide collections for online use is nothing new for the visual arts; digital image collections are readily available in many libraries and museums.

What is new is an Internet-based image database and multimedia teaching tool developed at James Madison University. Known as the Madison Digital Imaging Database (MDID), the software is available as a free download to educators across the nation.

Laura Paris, curator of visual resources in the Visual Resources Library, visited James Madison last summer to check out the system. "I was impressed," she said. "In October 2001, after acquiring some new equipment, including a flatbed scanner, slide scanner and a new server to store the images, I took advantage of the free download."

With help from Alastair Thorne, instructional technology specialist for the College of Fine Arts, Paris began testing the software the following winter and spring quarters. By summer 2002 they were ready to digitize the resource library's collection.

Under Paris' direction, the staff of the Visual Resources Library, located in the School of Art's Seigfred Hall, began the process of integrating digital images into the collection for classroom use.

At the moment the Visual Resources Library digital collection contains more than 600 images with more being added every day. Paris hopes to have added an additional 1,000 images by spring quarter. Adding images to the database is an ongoing process and Paris said they will eventually have over 10,000.

What sets MDID apart from other digital collections is that it is an image search engine and multimedia learning system. It allows instructors to search, retrieve, organize and teach with digital image data. Which means Ohio University faculty can electronically search thousands of stored digital images and organize their selections into lectures and slideshows 24 hours a day, seven days a week without actually going to the Visual Resources Library. Their slideshows are also easily archived for future use.

Charles Buchanan, professor in Interdisciplinary Arts, and Laura Fry, teaching assistant in Interdisciplinary Arts, are the first to use the new digital database. Fry said she enjoys using the MDID in her class and feels the system offers her students a more interactive experience. It also saves time.

Next quarter Rosemarie Basile will use MDID in her Art 110 class and in the spring it will be incorporated into CA117, an introduction to the fine arts, thanks to two new smart classrooms in Lindley Hall.

Paris said the system has applications beyond the College of Fine Arts and can be used by anyone who has access to a smart classroom on campus.

In October Paris conducted a demonstration of MDID for anyone interested in learning more about the system. Another demonstration is in the works for winter quarter.

For details about the system, e-mail Paris at paris@ohio.edu.

Susan Green is a media specialist with University Communications and Marketing.