DIGITIZATION PROJECTS AMONG PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN SERBIA: PROBLEMS, OBSTACLES AND SUCCESS STORIES Bogdan Trifunovic, M. A. Digitization Center, Public Library Cacak

Digitization projects among public libraries in Serbia 2 Library Network in Serbia Two national institutions, National Library of Serbia (Belgrade) and Library of Matica srpska (Novi Sad)‏ 27 district libraries More than 600 public libraries and branches in total

Digitization projects among public libraries in Serbia 3 District Libraries District libraires manage library networks in their districts (smaller public libraries, school libraries, special libraries)‏ Dependant on local governments for financing Every district library must have Local History Collections department, which are the most important in preserving local cultural heritage - therefore, LHC are priority for digitization projects among public libraries

Digitization projects among public libraries in Serbia 4 Digitization in Serbia Libraries lead digitization activities in Serbia (very few of museums or archives are involved)‏ National Library of Serbia started their program of digitization in Digital NBS Public libraries only recently became active participants in digital preservation of Serbian cultural heritage

Digitization projects among public libraries in Serbia 5 Digitization in Serbia According to one national survey in 2007, 17 of 27 district libraries answered that they are planning digitization projects, but only two answered that they have a project which is already well developed and with some results Same survey showed that only 48 professionals (librarians and programers) in public libraries were capable to deal with digitization

Digitization projects among public libraries in Serbia 6 Digitization in Serbia Public Library in Cacak conducted two surveys in 2009 (online and by ) to discover digitization trends among memory institutions in Serbia They showed that public libraries made some steps forward compared to 2007, because 40% said that digitization projects were started in their institutions

Digitization projects among public libraries in Serbia 7 Digitization in Serbia Survey by was targeted directly to the public libraries (approx. 40 libraries) and 17 of them responded to survey It gave more detailed insight in contemporary digitization activities among public libraries in Serbia (what kind of materials were digitized, what hardware has been used, are there online digitized materials accessible to users), but also showed the greatest problems libraries are facing

Digitization projects among public libraries in Serbia 8 Survey results 13 of 17 public libraries have collections of digitized materials and seven of them have some online material Public libraries in Serbia generally are well equiped with basic hardware to start digitization (scanners, computers, cameras)‏ Almost all digital materials are from LHC

Digitization projects among public libraries in Serbia 9 Problems!!! General lack of funds There is not enough staff capacities to handle new projects and technologies All public libraries are looking for national directives or guidelines to provide better practice in the future and collaboration between institutions What standards to use?

Digitization projects among public libraries in Serbia 10 Problems!!! What software to use? How to obtaine enough funds for longer period, to provide viable projects How to deal with copyright and other legal issues deriving from digitalization (current law does not treat digital materials)‏ NO COOPERATION! NO STRATEGY!

Digitization projects among public libraries in Serbia 11 Positive Trends First, digital preservation and digitization recieved significant attention of LIS professionals in Serbia attending many conferences, seminars or meetings where those topics were discussed Digitization has started to be equaly treated in (larger) public libraries with other long ago established services

Digitization projects among public libraries in Serbia 12 Positive Trends The Association of Serbian Libraries new web site has „Digital Libraries“ link placed at the top level navigation City library in Belgrade was the first public library to buy overhead scanner in 2008 The project „ Digital Library of Cacak“ has been voted the best library project in at the Association of Serbian Libraries annual meeting in June 2009

Digitization projects among public libraries in Serbia 13 Success Stories Following examples will show how several public libraries in Serbia managed to overcome all problems (budget, staff and capacity shortages, undefined directives, copyright issues, etc) to digitaly preserve the most important parts of local heritage they hold and provide new services to their patrons

Digitization projects among public libraries in Serbia 14 Public library Valjevo

Digitization projects among public libraries in Serbia 15 Public Library Ljubovija (eight employes)‏

Digitization projects among public libraries in Serbia 16 Public Library Kraljevo

Digitization projects among public libraries in Serbia 17 Public Library Krusevac (the oldest collection)‏

Digitization projects among public libraries in Serbia 18 Public Library Sabac (cooperation with NBS)‏

Digitization projects among public libraries in Serbia 19 Our Case - Public Library Cacak

Digitization projects among public libraries in Serbia 20 Public Library Cacak Digitization Initiatives Started in 2006 without previous practice or knowledge about digital preservation Web galleries of digitized collections were replaced in January 2008 with a Digital Library sollution, created with internal forces and outsource professional, after Greenstone software were abandoned Open source or free solutions (PHP, MySQL)‏

Digitization projects among public libraries in Serbia 21 Public Library Cacak Digitization Initiatives From modest beginnings (one project developed in 2006 and 2007 with the help of two grants) Digital Library has arisen in full scale digital preservation program of LHC materials Creation of Digitization Center in 2008, the first of its kind among public libraries in Serbia Plans to incorporate all local cultural institutions inside Digital Repository of Local Heritage

Digitization projects among public libraries in Serbia 22 Spreading the Word We realized that our environment must be educated about the importance of digital preservation (collegues, patrons, decision makers, local authorities)‏ Fund rasing Advocating for the cause Informing the users about new services That's why we started:

Digitization projects among public libraries in Serbia 23 Digitization and Digital Libraries blog digital.cacak-dis.rs

Digitization projects among public libraries in Serbia 24 Facebook Group

Digitization projects among public libraries in Serbia 25 Youtube Channel for Digitized Video

Thank you Questions? Bogdan Trifunovic, digital.cacak-dis.rs