Friday, June 7, 2002

Most Libraries and Museums Are Not Digitizing Collections, Survey Finds By SCOTT CARLSON The federal Institute of Museum and Library Services has released the results of a survey of digitization projects at museums, public and academic libraries, and state-library administrative agencies. The survey found that a minority of libraries and museums are involved in projects to make traditional materials available to users in a digital format, such as a CD-ROM or online. The survey shows that while most libraries and museums have funds dedicated to technology projects, only a third of museums and academic libraries, and only a quarter of public libraries, are involved in digitization efforts. About 700 museums and library organizations responded to the survey, the first of its kind, institute officials say. Museums and libraries that do have digitization projects often use the technology to preserve and provide easier access to photographs and fragile historical documents. But many libraries and museums don't have policies to control the format and execution of digitization projects. Among other recommendations in a report based on the survey, the institute suggests that libraries and museums set up policies on the standards, preservation, and selection of digitized material. The institute also recommends that libraries register digitized materials in central digital registries, such as the Association of Research Libraries' Digital Initiatives Database. The institute also says that it will continue to promote digitization projects, and will try to find more money for them. State-library administrative agencies, such as the Library of Virginia, are involved in digitization projects at a much higher rate than other libraries; about 80 percent have some sort of project under way. But among museums and public and academic libraries, a lack of money, need, and on-site expertise are listed as some of the main reasons that digitization is not proceeding. "Digitization is a new area," says Mary L. Chute, deputy director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. "I don't know that it is a realistic enterprise for smaller libraries." She says the institute conducted the survey to get a sense of how and where to direct grants and to get a sense of the growth of digitization projects at libraries. She says that another survey will be conducted in 2004. Easy-to-print version E-mail this article

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