Kate BoydDigital Initiatives Coordinator University of South Carolina

ASERL MeetingNovember 19th, 2014

Reasons to Digitize Special Collections

Internet Use Todayhttp://www.internetlivestats.com/internet-users/

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American Research Libraries are changing in a digital world• Reference• Circulation• ILL• Cataloging

• Special Collections???• How are Special Collections changing in a digital world?• What is the roll of modern American Research Libraries special collections?• Are your special collections as well organized and available as your general

collections?

Why Digitize - For the Patrons?• 24 hour access from anywhere in the world• New resources for the classroom• More access points through full text searching• New connections to other collections – SCDL and DPLA• No more microfilm readers

For the Library? • New patrons from around the world and all ages (k-12 = future users)• Better access to materials, including AV• New Promotional materials • Faculty and students working on new

projects with your materials• Some physical collection preservation• Additional cataloging and organizing for

repurposing metadata• Funding opportunities for accessibility

Should every library digitize their collections?What are the costs?

For the Donors?

• More access and use of the collections they donate• Ability to give them a copy of their

originals• Naming opportunities with online

collections

More Questions

• Can we share assessments and publicity strategies?• Can we share usage statistics and usage in general?• Can we share storage needs? Digital preservation?