ABOUT THE MOTCO PROJECT

The objective of the Motco project is to use information technology to increase the accessibility of the intellectual and aesthetic content of older printed material and at the same time aid longer term conservation of the original material, by reducing the need for physical access and handling.

We do not regard current digitisation and digital images as a long term repository of original material. Technology and standards will change too fast for that. However current digitisation combined with the global Internet technology and CD/DVD storage means that the content of relatively rare (and in some cases fragile) material can be made accessible globally. At the same time the digital form can also be made available within the institution holding the original material, greatly reducing the need for physical access and handling of the original item. The original paper version has in some cases already survived for several hundred years. Reduction in the need to handle it, assists in ensuring that it will last for several hundred more. As technology changes, well conserved, it will be available for enhanced digitisation and improved digital representations in future.

The current project (November 2000) is mainly dealing with Prints, Maps, Prospects and Panoramas of London and the Thames, pre-1870. There will inevitably be exceptions to that boundary.

SOURCE OF IMAGES AND COPYRIGHT

The copyright of the digital images and other material in the Motco database is clearly stated in all cases. In the case of images it is usually jointly owned by the owner of the original material photographed and Motco. Images and other material may only be copied for personal use. Personal use specifically excludes publication on any website.

If you require access to the images for commercial or other use, in hard copy or digital form, please contact the named owner of the original material or Motco.

STANDARDS

Only validated material and images of the highest standards are included. The design assumes that the user may not be technically expert and may be using a standard PC and dial-up line. All development is undertaken in this environment to ensure that we do not use facilities which will not work or are two slow for the typical user. We only use standard browser features. There is never any requirement to download special software. All applications are tested for operation with both Microsoft Explorer and Netscape browsers.

All Motco website applications and databases are completely duplicated using two separate locations www.motco.com and www.motco1.com to ensure continuity of service at all times. Users need however to note or 'bookmark' both to enable access in the event that one site cannot be reached or is slow. One location is in the UK and the other in the US.

CD VERSION AND UPDATE

Material is available both on the Motco website and on CD. There is a link from each CD to the Motco website, which will advise if there is a more recent version available, or other new additional material relevant to that subject.