The cost for ContentDM? base software exceeds our budgeted amount by a few hundred dollars (we must have used 2005 pricing when preparing our grant proposal last February). However, that doesn't necessarily rule out purchase of JPEG2000 and OCR options because we may have the flexibility to transfer funds within project scope. For example, if digitizing comes in under budget, we should be able to apply any residual to other products or services. This leads to a dilemma though because committing to the optional features potentially leads to higher cost of digitization.

We're currently working on scanning specifications and hope to get an RFB out the door within two weeks. A collection of about (700) 8x10 photographs is the primary focus of this initial project; but we also want to have a few items digitized from other collections involving materials such as newspapers, a variety of historical documents, audio and video. These would be posted on our website as "samples" so patrons could better appreciate the benefit of having more of the Library's holdings fully digitized.

Even though it would be good to get ContentDM? installed sooner than later, we may need to defer its purchase and concentrate on establishing cost for digitization. We could ask potential vendors to provide two quotes; one with and another without consideration for JPEG2000 and OCR technology. After receiving bids, we'd know if the optional products would fit into the project budget.