From Texts to Objects: The Digitization Process of Tiny Books
Sponsored by Gale, part of Cengage Group
Recorded on 01/21/2026
Posted in The Authority File
Episode 456
In the third episode of this four-part series, we chat with Eleanor Leese, Acquisitions Editor for Gale Primary Sources, about the logistics of digitizing tiny books for Eighteenth Century Collections Online (ECCO) Part III. First, Eleanor outlines the challenges the physical conditions of miniature books bring to the digitization process. Praising the work of the British Library on ECCO Part III, Eleanor explains how the team tested out new digitization techniques and even built a tiny book cradle to accommodate their small size. In addition, Eleanor shares how Gale worked with library partners to determine what to digitize—keep or discard a hundreds-year-old bug stuck between the pages? Our guest closes with thoughts on remediation, exploring the transformation of books from texts to objects when digitized.
Learn more about ECCO Part III and request trial access for your library.
About the guest:
Eleanor Leese
Acquisitions Editor
Gale Primary Sources
Eleanor Leese is an Acquisitions Editor for Gale Primary Sources, where she develops new archival projects that expand research access to rare and understudied historical materials. Before joining Gale, she worked as a freelance editor supporting trade and academic authors, particularly in history and narrative non-fiction. She brings a background in historical research and editorial development to her work, with a focus on identifying collections that illuminate everyday lived experience and lesser-heard voices in the historical record.
Enjoy the conversation? Listen to the rest of the series:
- Looking Back at Eighteenth Century Collections Online—and Introducing Part III
- Exploring the History, Allure, and Research Impact of Tiny Books
- Talking Metadata Challenges and Surprising Discoveries in ECCO Part III
Check out our previous series with Gale:
– How Librarians Are Helping to Build the Connected, Global Scholarly Community
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