Digitisation and copying
We can provide copies of most material to suit your research, study or reuse needs. We are currently unable to make copies of video cassettes or reel-to-reel audio tapes, but we can contact specialists with regard to specific enquiries. This is subject to different charges to those outlined below.
Digitisation and photography is possible as long as it:
- does not harm the item
- does not break copyright law
- complies with relevant legislation, such as data protection.
Find out what to do if you want to publish or reuse material from Cultural Collections.
Request digitsation and copying services
Please be aware: We are refining our digitisation order processes. During this period, we are likely to experience some delays to the service. Our current backlog is around eight weeks. If your order is time sensitive, please let us know at the point of ordering.
To place an order for a digitised item, follow this process:
- Search the Cultural Collections catalogue to find item(s).
- In the list of search results, click ‘MORE DETAILS’ under the item that you’d like us to copy. This will open the item page.
- On the item page, click the ‘ORDER COPY’ button to open a pop-up box that contains a form.
- Fill out the online form with your request information. If you have any specific requests, add these to the form in the ‘Details’ textbox.
- If the material is protected, you will be prompted to fill out the protected access tab.
- Read and accept the terms and conditions and submit your form.
You will receive an email with a confirmation and reference number. We will then retrieve the material, assess its suitability for reproduction and, subject to checks, forward you an invoice.
Follow the payment instructions in the invoice email. We accept payment via bank transfer or by card over the phone. We will process your request when we receive payment.
You will receive an email with a download link to the digitised material.
For help with this process, email the Cultural Collections team via specialcollections@library.leeds.ac.uk.
How much does it cost?
Digitisation of material is a charged service to cover equipment costs and staff time. When you place an order through our online catalogue, our team will contact you and provide a quote. The pricing structure guidelines are listed below. Please note that the prices below are not exhaustive and may vary depending on the digitisation requirements of individual items.
We aim to complete orders within 10 working days from receipt of payment. Express orders are possible but are charged at double the listed price.
| Type of item | Charge | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bound items | £2 per page (minimum order of £20) |
Digitisation of material is a charged service to cover equipment costs and staff time. When you place an order through our online catalogue, our team will contact you and provide a quote. The pricing structure guidelines are listed below. Please note that the prices below are not exhaustive and may vary depending on the digitisation requirements of individual items. We aim to complete orders within 10 working days from receipt of payment. Express orders are possible but are charged at double the listed price. |
| Items up to A2 (original up to 42 x 59.4cm) | £20 per image |
Sizes are based on the dimensions of the original item(s). High quality images are provided at a minimum standard of 300dpi. Suitable for detailed research and examination of documents/items |
| Items over A2 (original over 42 x 59.4cm) | Quote on request | Digitisation of items larger than A2 is available on request. Sizes are based on the dimensions of the original document. High quality images are provided at a minimum standard of 300dpi. |
| Microfilm | £75 per microfilm | Digitisation of a full microfilm reel. Captures from microfilm will be provided in a legible format at the highest quality possible. Images from microfilm can be provided as individual JPEGs or combined PDF files. Please note that the quality of the images may be limited by the quality of the original microfilm. |
| Audio transfer | £24 per item | For digitisation of audio cassettes, CDs and Minidiscs. Other formats can be quoted for by request. |
| Video transfer | Quote on request | Transfer of our video collections can be explored upon request. Please contact us with your requirements for more information. |
File formats and outputs
Image files are provided in JPEG format at a minimum resolution of 300dpi for legibility. Uncompressed TIFF images can be made available for publication requests.
Audio files are provided in MP3 format at a minimum bitrate of 192kbps. Uncompressed WAV or FLAC files can be made available on request.
Digitisation limitations
Occasionally we may need to decline digitisation of an item based on conservation concerns, copyright status, or equipment limitations. In the event we are unable to digitise an item, we will communicate this to you and no charge will be incurred.
Fee exemptions for academic use
We aim to support students and academic staff within University of Leeds by providing digitised material free of charge where possible. In instances of free digitisation, the volume of material requested will be assessed for viability and a turnaround time may be requested but not guaranteed. Should an item be required urgently then it will be classed as an express order and the appropriate charges will apply. Please indicate that you are a student or academic at Leeds when placing your order and we will follow up with you if further information is required.