Author: Beatrice Ayudeji Fabunmi, Matthew Paris, & Martins Fabunmi
Publisher: Open Journal Systems
URL: https://ojcs.siue.edu/ojs/index.php/ijaaas/article/viewFile/80/142
ABSTRACT
Digitization is a process by which materials housed in a library like books, manuscripts, theses, works of art, etc. are converted to digital or electronic format. In line with the intrinsic mission of libraries and information centers to provide information to its users, digitization enhances the access to information and contributes to the preservation of library materials. Though beneficial, the process of digitization poses certain risks and challenges which have a significant effect to a library's or information center's policy planning. The digitization process may push libraries to expend more resources than the usual but it is deemed to be of importance in modern libraries to respond to the changing needs and demands of users.
Publisher: Open Journal Systems
URL: https://ojcs.siue.edu/ojs/index.php/ijaaas/article/viewFile/80/142
ABSTRACT
Digitization is a process by which materials housed in a library like books, manuscripts, theses, works of art, etc. are converted to digital or electronic format. In line with the intrinsic mission of libraries and information centers to provide information to its users, digitization enhances the access to information and contributes to the preservation of library materials. Though beneficial, the process of digitization poses certain risks and challenges which have a significant effect to a library's or information center's policy planning. The digitization process may push libraries to expend more resources than the usual but it is deemed to be of importance in modern libraries to respond to the changing needs and demands of users.
What I learned
The advent of the information age, with the emergence of various technologies most especially computers and the internet has brought about advancements in handling information. These factors have proven themselves useful in making information available, providing users with better access. Digitization is part of these technologies that has paved the way for library services to be improved.
The digital format or electronic format with it's unique properties and the usability it gives both librarians and users have made its way to all parts of the world. The process involved, digitization, makes provision of service faster via the internet and also allows different users to access a material at the same time. Just thinking of all these benefits helps librarians become optimistic about the information profession. However, one may ask, what is the cost of all these?
According to Milagros Santos-Ong of the Supreme Court Library Services, it took managerial, financial and technical support for the Supreme Court Library to digitize (2006). Of these three factors, financial support is most likely the hardest to attain, especially that libraries are not primarily profit-generating institutions. Most libraries just depend on a limited budget, not to mention, sometimes, just single person to tend on the whole collection. Resources is one major factor that one must consider when planning a digitization project.
Conway (2000) has identified that a successful digitization project "lies in a thorough understanding of the relationships among" the characteristics of the materials you will be converting, your library's technical capabilities and the purpose of your digitization. To make these ends meet, on has to obviously employ financial resources, time, and manpower. Obtaining these resources expends even more resources. Definitely, librarians have to think it through and consider a lot of factors prior going through digitization.
Reflection
Conway (2000) has identified that a successful digitization project "lies in a thorough understanding of the relationships among" the characteristics of the materials you will be converting, your library's technical capabilities and the purpose of your digitization. To make these ends meet, on has to obviously employ financial resources, time, and manpower. Obtaining these resources expends even more resources. Definitely, librarians have to think it through and consider a lot of factors prior going through digitization.
Reflection
We all should go back to the basics when deciding on a big step such as digitization: our users. Yes, digitizing materials can help "protect..., represent..., and transcend..." library and information resources (Conway, 2000). Digitization can make a lot of things possible for users and librarians, when it comes to managing, preserving, handling, disseminating and accessing information. It all does that. But the big question really is "why digitize?". Perhaps this is the hard part.
I am not practicing a librarian but I believe in making use of technology to make things better, especially access to information. The need for digitization should be established enough for a library to go through it. It is a very good investment, undoubtedly. But your limited budget can go to other projects of immediate need as well: new and better resources, qualified staff and the old computers that may need replacing or upgrading. Though keeping up to the trend is what information professionals should thrive in, we do not have to always do it, especially in these hard times when practicality and ingenuity is better than being trendy and hip.
I am not practicing a librarian but I believe in making use of technology to make things better, especially access to information. The need for digitization should be established enough for a library to go through it. It is a very good investment, undoubtedly. But your limited budget can go to other projects of immediate need as well: new and better resources, qualified staff and the old computers that may need replacing or upgrading. Though keeping up to the trend is what information professionals should thrive in, we do not have to always do it, especially in these hard times when practicality and ingenuity is better than being trendy and hip.
References
Articles
Fabunmi, A. B., Paris, M., & Fabunmi, M. (2006). Digitization of library resources: challenges and implications for policy planning. International Journal of African and African American Studies. 5 (2), 23-36. Retrieved July 25, 2012, from https://ojcs.siue.edu/ojs/index.php/ijaaas/article/viewFile/80/142
Unsworth, J. (2004). The value of digitization for libraries and humanities scholarship. Retrieved July 26, 2012, from http://people.lis.illinois.edu/~unsworth/newberry.04.html#
Santos-Ong, Milagros. (2006). Digitization: pros and cons. Information and Communications
Technology in Library
Trends, Security & Ethics. Retrieved July 26, 2012, from http://paarl.wikispaces.com/file/view/digitizationprosncons.doc
Books
Northeast Document Conservation Center. (2000). Handbok for digital projects: a management tool for preservation and access. Retrieved July 25, 2012, from http://www.nedcc.org/resources/digitalhandbook/dman.pdf
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