View in EDS

Why Digitize?

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Why Digitize?
Language: English
Authors: Smith, Abby, Council on Library Resources, Inc., Washington, DC., Council on Library and Information Resources, Washington, DC.
Availability: Council on Library and Information Resources, 1755 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036; Web site: http://www.clir.org ($15).
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 20
Publication Date: 1999
Document Type: Reports - Evaluative
Descriptors: Access to Information, Costs, Information Management, Information Services, Information Storage, Information Technology, Library Materials, Library Technical Processes, Nonprint Media, Preservation
ISBN: 978-1-887334-65-5
Abstract: This paper is a response to discussions of digitization at meetings of the National Humanities Alliance (NHA). NHA asked the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) to evaluate the experiences of cultural institutions with digitization projects to date and to summarize what has been learned about the advantages and disadvantages of digitizing culturally significant materials. Findings revealed that digitization often raises expectations of benefits, cost reductions, and efficiencies that can be illusory and, if not viewed realistically, have the potential to put at risk the collections and services libraries have provided for decades. One such false expectation--that digital conversion has already or will shortly replace microfilming as the preferred medium for preservation reformatting--could result in irreversible losses of information. This paper defines digital information; identifies weaknesses of digitization as a preservation treatment; discusses the benefits and drawbacks of digital technology for access; and highlights issues institutions must consider in contemplating a digital conversion project. (AEF)
Entry Date: 1999
Accession Number: ED427787
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED427787
    Name: ERIC Full Text
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text from ERIC
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: ED427787
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Report
PubTypeId: report
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Why Digitize?
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Smith%2C+Abby%22">Smith, Abby</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Council+on+Library+Resources%2C+Inc%2E%2C+Washington%2C+DC%2E%22">Council on Library Resources, Inc., Washington, DC.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Council+on+Library+and+Information+Resources%2C+Washington%2C+DC%2E%22">Council on Library and Information Resources, Washington, DC.</searchLink>
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Council on Library and Information Resources, 1755 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036; Web site: http://www.clir.org ($15).
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: N
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 20
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 1999
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Reports - Evaluative
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Access+to+Information%22">Access to Information</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Costs%22">Costs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+Management%22">Information Management</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+Services%22">Information Services</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+Storage%22">Information Storage</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+Technology%22">Information Technology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Library+Materials%22">Library Materials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Library+Technical+Processes%22">Library Technical Processes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nonprint+Media%22">Nonprint Media</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preservation%22">Preservation</searchLink>
– Name: ISBN
  Label: ISBN
  Group: ISBN
  Data: 978-1-887334-65-5
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This paper is a response to discussions of digitization at meetings of the National Humanities Alliance (NHA). NHA asked the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) to evaluate the experiences of cultural institutions with digitization projects to date and to summarize what has been learned about the advantages and disadvantages of digitizing culturally significant materials. Findings revealed that digitization often raises expectations of benefits, cost reductions, and efficiencies that can be illusory and, if not viewed realistically, have the potential to put at risk the collections and services libraries have provided for decades. One such false expectation--that digital conversion has already or will shortly replace microfilming as the preferred medium for preservation reformatting--could result in irreversible losses of information. This paper defines digital information; identifies weaknesses of digitization as a preservation treatment; discusses the benefits and drawbacks of digital technology for access; and highlights issues institutions must consider in contemplating a digital conversion project. (AEF)
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 1999
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: ED427787
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED427787
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 20
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Access to Information
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Costs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Information Management
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Information Services
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Information Storage
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Information Technology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Library Materials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Library Technical Processes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Nonprint Media
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Preservation
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Why Digitize?
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Council on Library Resources, Inc., Washington, DC.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Council on Library and Information Resources, Washington, DC.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Smith, Abby
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 02
              Type: published
              Y: 1999
          Identifiers:
            – Type: isbn-print
              Value: 978-1-887334-65-5
ResultId 1