[Eril-l] Primary Research Group Inc. has published the Survey of Efforts to Digitize Ancient or Fragile Materials, ISBN 979-8-88517-253-0

[Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list]

This study looks at how major libraries and museums are tackling the issue
of digitizing some of their most difficult to digitize materials, ancient
manuscripts, fragments of documents and other difficult to digitize
materials.  The study provides detailed data on the types of equipment
considered most valuable, personnel training budgets and practices,
insurance and transport issues, and much more.  The study also looks at
outsourcing vs. in-house digitization, as well as defining what and how
much institutions intend to digitize in the near future.  The study helps
to answer questions such as:  how much do libraries plan to digitize?  How
are they digitizing their most sensitive materials?  Which technologies are
they using and which are considered critical?


Just a few of this comprehensive 112 page report’s many findings are that:


• No special collections librarian in the sample reported that more than
30% of their stock of ancient, rare or fragile materials had been digitized.


• 16% of respondents were sure that their institutions had insurance that
would cover accidents during digitization.


• 60% of respondents in institutions with more than 23,000 students FTE
had an in -house training program in digitization skills.


• Respondents from schools in higher tuition ranges were much likelier than
others to plan to digitize most of all of their ancient or fragile items.


• 40% of respondents believed that flatbed scanners were almost always
important in their digitization efforts


The data and commentary in the report is from 25 academic libraries and
museums from the USA, Canada, Europe and the developing world involved in
digitization efforts of particularly ancient or fragile materials.  Data in
the report is broken out by type and size of college or university, by
public and private status, and by the personal characteristics of the
respondent, such as work title and age.


For a table of contents, the questionnaire and an excerpt – view the
product page at:   https://www.primaryresearch.com/AddCart.aspx?ReportID=814
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