Embracing Digital Embracing Digital Collections:Collections:

Access Issues and Practices for

Academic LibrariesOregon Library Association

Salem, OR April 7, 2006

Kate Cleland-SipfleSouthern Oregon University

Plan of PresentationPlan of Presentation• Digital Collections (Overview)• Accessing Digital Collections• Barriers to Access• Academic Library Roles in Access• Comments from

Oregon/Washington Academic Library Survey (Preliminary Results)

Digital Collections Digital Collections (Overview)(Overview)

•Produced by Cultural heritage institutions•Access is free (except possibly for copies)•Home page is gateway to materials in the collection (“collection level access”)•Individual items are “information objects” •Collection search software accesses the information objects (“object level access”)•WWW search engines may or may not provide object level access

Formats of Digital Formats of Digital CollectionsCollections

• Full-text • Maps• Images of photographs, posters,

other • Images of three-dimensional objects (as in art objects)• Data files• Finding aids • Audio and/or video• Blends of any of the above

CollectionCollectionss of Collections of CollectionsAmerican Memory – Library of CongressAmerican Memory – Library of Congress

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/index.html

Collection of CollectionsCollection of CollectionsSouthern Oregon Digital ArchivesSouthern Oregon Digital Archives

http://soda.sou.edu

Digital Collection Access vs.

Digital Object Access

Analogies: • The Library vs. the book, map,

video, or other object in the library

• The library catalog vs. one record in the catalog

Issue: OAI compliance

Multi-Format CollectionsMulti-Format CollectionsThe Valley of the ShadowThe Valley of the Shadow

http://valley.vcdh.virginia.edu/

Accessing Formats by Accessing Formats by Time in Time in

The Valley of the ShadowThe Valley of the ShadowMaterials may be

accessed by type.

Three “floor plans”divide the worksby time periods• Pre-war• Civil War• Post-war

http://valley.vcdh.virginia.edu/choosepart.html

Accessing Digital Collections

Getting at the Links•Internet search engines•Institutional web presence

•Links on web pages•Library Catalogs•Union Catalogs•Course Pages •Course Management Software

Using Internet Search Using Internet Search EnginesEngines

to Search Digital to Search Digital CollectionsCollectionsEnabling ConditionsEnabling Conditions

• User is familiar with search engines

• Keywords are known• Domain limit (for example, .edu)• Domain is trusted• Object level access may be

available

Using Internet Search Using Internet Search EnginesEngines

to Search Digital to Search Digital CollectionsCollectionsBarriers to AccessBarriers to Access

• User does not know collection name or keywords that work

• User is unsure of domain • User is unprepared to evaluate websites• Object level access may not be available

Accessing Digital Collections

Getting at the Links•Internet search engines +’s and –’s•+’s and –’s of access through library web presence??

•Links on web pages•Library Catalogs•Union Catalogs•Course Pages

Using Library Web to Using Library Web to Provide Access to Digital Provide Access to Digital

CollectionsCollectionsEnabling ConditionsEnabling Conditions• Selection, endorsement, “cachet”• Prominent or strategic link

placement• Time, willingness to find and

catalog digital collections• Good OPAC search limits (Internet)• Consortium union catalog

Using Library Web to Using Library Web to Provide Access to Digital Provide Access to Digital

CollectionsCollectionsBarriers to AccessBarriers to Access• User ignores library web or does not

know of/can’t find link • Lack of time, willingness to catalog or even find or evaluate digital

collections• OPAC software may not allow Internet

limit/user may not go to full record• Consortium catalog may present the same problems as OPAC

Master Cataloging Master Cataloging Records for Digital Records for Digital

Collections: Collections: Who is Responsible? Who is Responsible? A Plea from A Plea from ExperienceExperience

• Creators know content and intent• The multiplier effect is substantial OPAC

Consortium union catalog

Bibliographic utility/database -OCLC -WorldCat

How Do Digital Collections Fit In?

The Digital Library System Group website identifies several ways digital versions of information media are used for the basic purposes of academic libraries:

• Inter-Library loan copies • Electronic Reserves• Patron scanning of resources• Access to curriculum materials through

course web pages and course management software

• E-books or other e-resources• Digital Collections (multiple e-resources

through one gateway) Source: http://www.dlsg.net/news14.shtml

Accessing Digital Accessing Digital CollectionsCollections

Preliminary Survey ResultsPreliminary Survey Results

Has your library (or special libraries or archives within it) created a digital collection?

4 (24%) Yes12 (71%) No 1 (06%) no answer

Reflects 20% overall response rate to survey, academic libraries, states of Oregon and Washington

Accessing Digital Accessing Digital CollectionsCollections

Preliminary Survey ResultsPreliminary Survey ResultsHow does the public access digital collections produced by other institutions but promoted or selected by your library? (all that apply)3 (18%) World Wide Web search engines8 (47%) Web links on Library Home 2 (12%) Our online library catalog (local record)6 (35%) Our online library catalog (OCLC or RLIN record)6 (35%) Our consortium union catalog 4 (24%) Library or campus online exhibit(s), course or subject guide(s) 0 ( 0%) Other or additional

Reflects 20% overall response rate to survey, academic libraries, states of Oregon and Washington

Thank YouThank You• To Kelly and Emily, session

colleagues• To the audience for coming• To all of you for listening• To all for thinking about the issues• And please consider taking the

survey if you have not done so already