Nautical Research Journal
identifi er and a unique increasing number indicating the order of the image in the document. So, if the SWIFT003 document has three images, you might name the image fi les SWIFT003#
001.JPG, SWIFT003#002. JPG, and SWIFT003#
003.JPG. T is will allow you to return the images to their proper order with your computer’s directory sorting features.
• Finally, a spreadsheet with an entry for each document has proven an essential tool for keeping track of things. Along with the document identifi er, you might, for example, store the fi rst and last dates covered by the document; number of image fi les; name of the author; description of contents; document type (log, in-letter, out-letter, etc.); date you retrieved it; and similar metadata about the document.
If your spreadsheet soſt ware supports adding a hyperlink to the contents of a cell, consider adding a hyperlink to each document identifi er that will, with a simple mouse click, take you directly to the corresponding fi le directory where the images are stored.
At the archives
Finally, your time at the archives has arrived. NMM is an easy walk from the North Greenwich underground station on the Jubilee line. TNA is two blocks from the Kew Gardens station on the District line towards Richmond.
Here is what to take with you into the Readers Room. • Your Readers Card (or get one when you fi rst arrive).
• Your timeline and notes about what to look for.
• Camera but not its case, extra batteries and storage cards, computer transfer cable, and charging cables. Having a backup camera in case of technical problems with the fi rst one is an excellent idea. You do not need a fancy camera; a modern pocket digital camera
will work great as long as it has a standard threaded tripod adapter on it for the archive’s camera stand mount. Turn off the fl ash.
• Pencils only—no pens, markers or erasers. Mechanical pencils are best but be sure to remove the eraser under the cap. You can buy traditional wooden pencils at the archives bookstore if needed; break off the eraser if necessary.
• Blank note paper. You will fi nd working notes important to keep track of where you are, and later, to sort out what you did.
• Computer, power supply, and mouse. Also, an external USB fl ash drive or two is a good addition.
Both archives provide free lockers for stuff that cannot go into the Readers Room (such as your backpack, jacket, and umbrella) and clear plastic bags for things you take in. In the Readers Room, you will be limited to items in the above list, and your items will be inspected on the way in and on the way out. Bring lunch money—food and drink are not allowed in the Readers Room. Both archives have reasonable deli-style lunch facilities outside the Readers Room.
Once you have a Readers Card, you can save yourself some time by ordering up to six documents in advance through the archive’s website. T ey will be waiting for you when you arrive, and you can get right to work. As you work at the archives through the day, keeping up to six document requests in your fetch queue will let you make best use of your time.
Each document you Figure 4.
order will come in some sort of box or other container and will be accompanied by a yellow slip. (Figure 4) T is yellow slip is important, and you should return it with the
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