Library digitization projects, issues and guidelines. A survey of the literature
| Date | 01 April 2006 |
| Published date | 01 April 2006 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830610669637 |
| Pages | 273-289 |
| Author | Laurie Lopatin |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
OTHER ARTICLE
Library digitization projects,
issues and guidelines
A survey of the literature
Laurie Lopatin
Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York, USA
Abstract
Purpose – To provide a selective bibliography of literature which explores issues and provides
guidelines on library digitization projects.
Design/methodology/approach – Literature published from 2000-2005 on library digitization
projects was examined. Issues involving digitization projects are presented, as well as case studies and
resources for digitization projects. The paper has the following sections: project management, funding
digital projects, selection of materials, legal issues, metadata creation, interoperability, and preservation
issues.
Findings – Libraries are undertaking digitization projects to provide wider access to and to preserve
materials. The literature survey presents an overview of digitization activities and discussions of
issues concerning library digital projects. The authors of the case studies detail how libraries dealt
with various components of the projects, such as planning, cataloging, and handling copyright issues.
Many aspects of digitization projects will be changing over time, with further research and advances
in technology, and the literature on the subject bears watching in coming years.
Practical implications – The articles and resource guides in the literature survey can assist
librarians in carrying out digitization projects in their institutions.
Originality/value – It explains how important issues in library digitization projects are being
encountered and resolved and provides many practical guidelines and resources for librarians
undertaking such projects.
Keywords Digital libraries,Research libraries, Collectionsmanagement
Paper type Literature review
Introduction
Since, the early 1990s libraries have been embarking on digitization projects to provide
access to and to preserve unique materials in their collections. There is a wealth of
literature on many aspects of this subject. This survey presents a sampling of the
literature published from 2000-2005 on some of the issues and components involved in
non-commercial digitization projects conducted by libraries in the US – project
management, funding of projects, selection of materials for digitization, lega l issues,
metadata, interoperability, and preservation – to see where the profession is and to aid
libraries in digitization efforts. Case studies of digital projects illustrate how libraries
are addressing these issues.
Access and preservation of materials are the major reasons that libraries are
undertaking digitization projects. Through digitization, the library is able to provide
access to all sorts of materials – text, photographs, manu scripts, audio, and moving
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
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Library
digitization
projects
273
Received January 2006
Accepted March 2006
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 24 No. 2, 2006
pp. 273-289
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/07378830610669637
image materials. Digitization also allows for the preservation of rare, fragile, and
unique materials:
Collections can be made accessible, via digital surrogates in an enhanced format that allows
searching and browsing, to both traditional and new audiences via the internet (Hughes, 2004,
p. 6).
Kenney and Rieger (2000, p. 1) state that libraries are digitizing materials because:
... they remain convinced of the continuing value of such resources for learning, teaching,
research, scholarship, documentation, and public accountability.
Another benefit of digitization is that it raises the profile of the institution as users
worldwide utilize its collection remotely:
There has been a significant growth of various national and international digitization
projects in the last ten years, as libraries and universities all around the world have funded
major initiatives to showcase their rich cultural and scientific heritage (Hughes, 2004, p. 6).
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) reported in its 2001 survey of
digitization activities by museums and libraries that 34 percent of academic libra ries,
24 percent of public libraries, and 78 percent of state library administrative agencies
had been involved in digitization activities in the previous year (IMLS, 2002, p. 7).
Nineteen percent of academic libraries (p. 26), and 13 percent of public libraries (p. 23)
planned digitization activities in the next 12 months. Academic libraries ranked the
highest priority goal of digitization as increased access to the collections and the
second highest priority as the preservation of materials of importance or value (IML S,
2002, p. 27). Many library digitization projects involve special collections. According to
a 1998 survey of special collections departments in Association of Research Libraries
(ARL), 66 percent were conducting digitization projects, and 25 percent were planning
digitization projects (Panitch, 2001, p. 52).
At a more local level in 2004, the Metropolitan New York Library Council (METRO)
conducted a survey of the digitization activities of its 270 member libraries. Fifty-one
percent of the respondents had digitized items in the past two years, and 45 percent
planned to digitize in the next two years (Metropolitan New York Library Council and
OCLC, 2005, p. 3). Forty-seven percent of the respondents indicated that increasing
access to the collection was the primary reason for digitizing materials (p. 4).
Project management
Digital projects are extremely complex, and effective project management – including
managing budgets, staffing, workflow, determining technical specifications, and
metadata creation – is vital for a successful digitization project. Several authors
provide guidelines for managing digital projects. Chapman (2000) discusses three
phases of a digital project – setting goals, planning and budgeting, and managing
workflow – and he discusses various issues and tasks in each phase. Grout et al. (2000)
discuss management issues involved in creating digital resources, and they provid e
guidelines for such aspects of a digital project as project planning, preparation for data
creation, resource delivery, and archiving and preservation. Cervone (2005) outlines a
process for digital library project teams to use in the important task of decision
making, including the use of an option assessment matrix.
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