CENTRAL/WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATED RESOURCE SHARING Digitization GOALS & THEIR LOGISTICS Michael J. Bennett Digital Initiatives Librarian C/WMARS, Inc. (508) x.23

CENTRAL/WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATED RESOURCE SHARING I. GOALS of DIGITIZATION questions to ask while planning: Why does your institution wish to digitize? What are the anticipated outcomes? Who are the targeted end-users? How can these outcomes and users be periodically evaluated as the project progresses?

CENTRAL/WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATED RESOURCE SHARING The Digitization Advantage Access (cross collection indexing, full text searching) Flexibility of Digital Content (data is not fixed and may be reformatted, edited, etc.) Preservation Aid to Source Material Public Relations Novel uses of Digitized Material

CENTRAL/WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATED RESOURCE SHARING Access Digital Treasures King County Snapshots Utah Digital Newspapers Sample Digital Library Collections:

CENTRAL/WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATED RESOURCE SHARING Preservation Aid to Source Material Digital surrogates reduce the handling of analog originals which may be fragile. Digitization, however, is not a form of preservation which relies on long-term, stable media. As a result, digital surrogates should never replace original analog items.

CENTRAL/WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATED RESOURCE SHARING Public Relations Through digitizing their collections, libraries continue to support the idea that there is value in the materials they house. In turn, this assists in promoting such collections and institutions as a whole.

CENTRAL/WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATED RESOURCE SHARING II. LOGISTICAL CONCERNS the view from 30,000’ : **QUESTION** HOW WILL OUR ORGANIZATION DIGITIZE OUR MATERIALS???

CENTRAL/WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATED RESOURCE SHARING II. LOGISTICAL CONCERNS the view from 30,000’ : **OPTION #1** BUILD LAB & REPOSITORY Pros: Control of Everything Including Imaging, Metadata Schema & Customization of Patron Access. Cons: Costs & The Responsibilities of Control. Software & Hardware Maintenance May Necessitate Specialized Staff. Will Chosen Metadata Schemas be Interoperable into the Future?

CENTRAL/WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATED RESOURCE SHARING II. LOGISTICAL CONCERNS the view from 30,000’ : **OPTION #2** BUILD LAB BUT STORE & SERVE UP MATERIALS THROUGH 3 RD PARTY REPOSITORY Pros: Costs, Possibly Maintain Some Control Cons: Imaging & Metadata Standards Must Align Closely with Existing Repository. Patron Access Control May Be Limited.

CENTRAL/WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATED RESOURCE SHARING II. LOGISTICAL CONCERNS the view from 30,000’ : **OPTION #3** DIGITIZATION, STORAGE & ONLINE DELIVERY THROUGH 3 RD PARTY REPOSITORY Pros: Costs, Minimal Infrastructure Support & Specialization. Cons: Digitization & Metadata Standards Must Align Closely with Existing Repository. Possibly Little Control of Patron Access. Migration to New Vendor, if necessary, May Be Complex.

CENTRAL/WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATED RESOURCE SHARING II. LOGISTICAL CONCERNS sample expenses: **OPTION #1** BUILD LAB & REPOSITORY

CENTRAL/WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATED RESOURCE SHARING

II. LOGISTICAL CONCERNS selection for digitization : Source Materials Intellectual Rights Infrastructure

CENTRAL/WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATED RESOURCE SHARING II. LOGISTICAL CONCERNS selection for digitization : Source Materials: or “why would you do it?”

CENTRAL/WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATED RESOURCE SHARING II. LOGISTICAL CONCERNS selection for digitization : Source Materials (why would you do it?) –Value Artifactual characteristics Historical significance Intellectual content Collection Policy or Library Mission –Added value Improved or enhanced access Creating new collections Image quality & flexibility Text-searching & manipulation Preservation benefits –Demand Demonstrated use Potential use

CENTRAL/WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATED RESOURCE SHARING II. LOGISTICAL CONCERNS selection for digitization : Intellectual Rights: or “when should you do it?”

CENTRAL/WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATED RESOURCE SHARING II. LOGISTICAL CONCERNS selection for digitization : Intellectual Rights (when should you do it?) –Do you have the legal right to create a digital version? –Materials only in the public domain? –Restrictions on access? –The added cost of rights management?

CENTRAL/WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATED RESOURCE SHARING II. LOGISTICAL CONCERNS selection for digitization : Infrastructure: or “how could you do it?”

CENTRAL/WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATED RESOURCE SHARING II. LOGISTICAL CONCERNS selection for digitization : Infrastructure (how could you do it?) Systems Discovery (searching, identifying) Metadata (descriptive, administrative) Delivery (reliable, user-friendly) Storage (security, migration, maintenance) Technical capacity Hardware (scanners, network, servers) Software (image processing, OCR) Quality control (automated & manual) Support (local or vendor)

CENTRAL/WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATED RESOURCE SHARING II. LOGISTICAL CONCERNS selection for digitization : Special vs. General Collections

CENTRAL/WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATED RESOURCE SHARING II. LOGISTICAL CONCERNS selection for digitization : Special Collections Pros Often visual oriented materials (photographs, manuscripts, maps, etc) System Features (zoom, pan) May not require OCR/text searching Unique material/unlocking collections Preservation benefits Cons Specialized cataloging/finding aids Specialized imaging expertise/equipment Conservation issues (never simple) Scale (incomplete/partial collections) May have complex rights issues

CENTRAL/WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATED RESOURCE SHARING II. LOGISTICAL CONCERNS selection for digitization : General Collections Pros Patron demand Reference librarian demand Cons Isn’t this reselection? Competing for resources (It’s so costly for even one book) Critical mass problem (can you provide enough content?) Copyright The Google factor (Leave it to Google?) Duplication or collaboration (can you coordinate?) Didn’t we just create preservation microfilm?

CENTRAL/WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATED RESOURCE SHARING Sources Backmann, T. (2006, May 6). Selection for Digitization, a focus on the General Collections at the Harvard College Library. Presentation from ACRL/NEC/ Preservation -Conservation Interest Group meeting, NEDCC.

CENTRAL/WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATED RESOURCE SHARING Digitization Digitization GOALS & THEIR LOGISTICS The End Michael J. Bennett Digital Initiatives Librarian C/WMARS, Inc. (508) x.23