Copyright is a major theme that will always accompany digitization of existing materials (most of it copyrighted), may not have to be a central focus of the project, but certainly is one that will come up constantly from the people that work on it.
One key aspect today vs. 10yrs ago is - digitization isn't a debate anymore about to or not to do it. It is simply expected that it should, just by looking at yourself and your peers in relation to the works you do for the class projects, very few will be hunting physical books and papers unless you're asked to.
This generation simply expects information to be digital. Or for that matter, musics to be in mp3 format.
That said, there still are values to the physical storage of information, the digital age did not bring about the paper-less office as many predicted. What it did bring about is the instant transfer and sharing of information, and that is why we want information to be digital - instant access and efficiency of it.
Information cost $ to produce (authors, editors, etc), these producers have to be paid. Scenario, you buy a 800page bio book for $95, your roommate in the same class could borrow it from you for free, or try to photocopy it(sketchy), or if the book where entirely in digital, you can just email him the book. If that is the reality, than one person in the class buys the book and emails to the class. On the other end, the info producers, as a business would go bankrupt and cease to produce future books if they cannot turn a profit.
This scenario is on the basis that we should be able to have a digital books along w/ the physical one, it probably would be more valuable to the end user (search-able, not necessary to lug it around).
Why am I getting at? Digitization isn't all that complicated, just scan everything, not an issue for the stuff that nobody owns. But, a big chunk or majority of the information we want digitized isn't free.
Going on tangents a bit, going back to your prospectus on next comment.
Base on what I'm reading, you guys will most likely be dealing with the academic perspectives of digitization.
Their client base is mostly researchers and students. So most of what they'll be talking about will be research journals' subscription and access. Then the management of physical books and collections, and meeting the expectations and needs of their client base (accessing information fast and easy).
The digital libraries, what role do they serve? How are they doing at those roles? In contrast or in compliment to the physical library. The physical library is more than just a place with information, its also an complex institution in the services they offer, but also as a "place" that offer more than just info.
Seems like you guys still have a bit to go in getting solidifying the themes. Something along the lines of digitization efforts in academic libraries, going into the how and whats going on etc. On another track is the digital libraries, a lot has been said about and how exactly it gets used and who uses it etc, are not all that known, as the purpose and roles it plays.
Just some of my inputs, look forward to whats next from you guys.
4 comments:
Copyright is a major theme that will always accompany digitization of existing materials (most of it copyrighted), may not have to be a central focus of the project, but certainly is one that will come up constantly from the people that work on it.
One key aspect today vs. 10yrs ago is - digitization isn't a debate anymore about to or not to do it. It is simply expected that it should, just by looking at yourself and your peers in relation to the works you do for the class projects, very few will be hunting physical books and papers unless you're asked to.
This generation simply expects information to be digital. Or for that matter, musics to be in mp3 format.
That said, there still are values to the physical storage of information, the digital age did not bring about the paper-less office as many predicted. What it did bring about is the instant transfer and sharing of information, and that is why we want information to be digital - instant access and efficiency of it.
Information cost $ to produce (authors, editors, etc), these producers have to be paid. Scenario, you buy a 800page bio book for $95, your roommate in the same class could borrow it from you for free, or try to photocopy it(sketchy), or if the book where entirely in digital, you can just email him the book. If that is the reality, than one person in the class buys the book and emails to the class. On the other end, the info producers, as a business would go bankrupt and cease to produce future books if they cannot turn a profit.
This scenario is on the basis that we should be able to have a digital books along w/ the physical one, it probably would be more valuable to the end user (search-able, not necessary to lug it around).
Why am I getting at? Digitization isn't all that complicated, just scan everything, not an issue for the stuff that nobody owns. But, a big chunk or majority of the information we want digitized isn't free.
Going on tangents a bit, going back to your prospectus on next comment.
Base on what I'm reading, you guys will most likely be dealing with the academic perspectives of digitization.
Their client base is mostly researchers and students. So most of what they'll be talking about will be research journals' subscription and access. Then the management of physical books and collections, and meeting the expectations and needs of their client base (accessing information fast and easy).
The digital libraries, what role do they serve? How are they doing at those roles? In contrast or in compliment to the physical library. The physical library is more than just a place with information, its also an complex institution in the services they offer, but also as a "place" that offer more than just info.
Seems like you guys still have a bit to go in getting solidifying the themes. Something along the lines of digitization efforts in academic libraries, going into the how and whats going on etc. On another track is the digital libraries, a lot has been said about and how exactly it gets used and who uses it etc, are not all that known, as the purpose and roles it plays.
Just some of my inputs, look forward to whats next from you guys.
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