Embracing Digital Collections: Embracing Digital Collections: Access Issues and Practices for Academic Libraries Oregon Library Association Salem, OR April 7, 2006 Kate Cleland-Sipfle Southern Oregon University

Plan of Presentation Digital Collections (Overview) Accessing Digital Collections Barriers to Access Academic Library Roles in Access Comments from Oregon/Washington Academic Library Survey (Preliminary Results)

Digital Collections (Overview) Produced by Cultural heritage institutions Access is free (except possibly for copies) Home page is gateway to materials in the collection (“collection level access”) Individual items are “information objects” Collection search software accesses the information objects (“object level access”) WWW search engines may or may not provide object level access

Formats of Digital Collections Full-text Maps Images of photographs, posters, other Images of three-dimensional objects (as in art objects) Data files Finding aids Audio and/or video Blends of any of the above

Collections of Collections American Memory – Library of Congress

Collection of Collections Southern Oregon Digital Archives

Digital Collection Access vs. Digital Object Access Analogies: The Library vs. the book, map, video, or other object in the library The library catalog vs. one record in the catalog Issue: OAI compliance

Multi-Format Collections The Valley of the Shadow

Accessing Formats by Time in The Valley of the Shadow Materials may be accessed by type. Three “floor plans” divide the works by time periods Pre-war Civil War Post-war

Accessing Digital Collections Getting at the Links Internet search engines Institutional web presence Links on web pages Library Catalogs Union Catalogs Course Pages Course Management Software

Using Internet Search Engines to Search Digital Collections Enabling Conditions User is familiar with search engines Keywords are known Domain limit (for example,.edu) Domain is trusted Object level access may be available

Using Internet Search Engines to Search Digital Collections Barriers to Access User does not know collection name or keywords that work User is unsure of domain User is unprepared to evaluate websites Object level access may not be available

Accessing Digital Collections Getting at the Links Internet search engines +’s and –’s +’s and –’s of access through library web presence?? Links on web pages Library Catalogs Union Catalogs Course Pages

Using Library Web to Provide Access to Digital Collections Enabling Conditions Selection, endorsement, “cachet” Prominent or strategic link placement Time, willingness to find and catalog digital collections Good OPAC search limits (Internet) Consortium union catalog

Using Library Web to Provide Access to Digital Collections Barriers to Access User ignores library web or does not know of/can’t find link Lack of time, willingness to catalog or even find or evaluate digital collections OPAC software may not allow Internet limit/user may not go to full record Consortium catalog may present the same problems as OPAC

Master Cataloging Records for Digital Collections: Who is Responsible? A Plea from Experience Creators know content and intent The multiplier effect is substantial OPAC Consortium union catalog Bibliographic utility/database -OCLC -WorldCat

How Do Digital Collections Fit In? The Digital Library System Group website identifies several ways digital versions of information media are used for the basic purposes of academic libraries: Inter-Library loan copies Electronic Reserves Patron scanning of resources Access to curriculum materials through course web pages and course management software E-books or other e-resources Digital Collections (multiple e-resources through one gateway) Source:

Accessing Digital Collections Preliminary Survey Results Has your library (or special libraries or archives within it) created a digital collection? 4 (24%) Yes 12 (71%) No 1 (06%) no answer Reflects 20% overall response rate to survey, academic libraries, states of Oregon and Washington

Accessing Digital Collections Preliminary Survey Results How does the public access digital collections produced by other institutions but promoted or selected by your library? (all that apply) 3 (18%) World Wide Web search engines 8 (47%) Web links on Library Home 2 (12%) Our online library catalog (local record) 6 (35%) Our online library catalog (OCLC or RLIN record) 6 (35%) Our consortium union catalog 4 (24%) Library or campus online exhibit(s), course or subject guide(s) 0 ( 0%) Other or additional Reflects 20% overall response rate to survey, academic libraries, states of Oregon and Washington

Thank You To Kelly and Emily, session colleagues To the audience for coming To all of you for listening To all for thinking about the issues And please consider taking the survey if you have not done so already