Subject: Summary: A Case for Storage in a Digital Age
From: Emily Stambaugh <stambae_at_wfu.edu>
[Below are various responses to my original post. A thank you to all
for your comments.]
Original post:
Can you point me to some supporting literature, annecdotes or
statements you have used to make your case when asked this question by
a non-librarian?
'Why do we need to store books if everything is going digital?'
I can rattle off plenty of reasons why and have quite a few books and
articles, but I'd like to get your ideas as well.
Emily Stambaugh
==#1==
Emily et al: The attached (pdf) I've also provided the text of, below
(but I changed the font to Times New Roman). It puts the lie to "Why
do we need to store books if everything is going digital?" My own
perception is that "both/and" will characterize the future much more
than "either/or" will, and for diverse reasons.
http://www.infomotions.com/serials/colldv-l/05/att-0054/M-Gorman___Google_and_God_s_Mind.pdf
Jim
James C. Pakala <mailto:jim.pakala_at_covenantseminary.edu>
Library Director Phone: 314-434-4044 ext.4101; Fax:
314-434-4819
Covenant Theological Seminary
12330 Conway Road; St. Louis, MO 63141-8697
==#2==
Lynn Sipe and Jim Pakala also referred me to some feedback on the OCLC
Environmental Scan. Attached Word Doc. [Moderator: Colldv doesn't
do attachments, so here is a link to the report:
A thank you to all for your comments.
==#3==
Emily,
We had a situation in the fall of 2001 when the Nimda virus took down
our internet access for a full six work days. During this time, if we
hadn't had even a basic print library housed in each of our offices,
we would not have been able to do any research or other work for our
clients. Online services are only accessible when you have
electricity and/or web access. When those are comprimised, you're out
of luck unless you have print.
Regards,
Leigh Maddox
Leigh Maddox
Associate, Library Services
Publication and Subscription
Management Services (PSMS)
KPMG LLP - Albuquerque
phone: 505.880.3883
fax: 505.884.8348
Publication and Subscription Management Services (PSMS), a part of
Operation Services, works to ensure the efficient management of
publications throughout the firm. Our team of Library Coordinators is
committed to delivering your information in a timely and cost
efficient manner. We are dedicated to providing our clients with
excellent service and welcome your feedback and suggestions.
==#4==
From: John Maxstadt <jmaxstadt_at_tamiu.edu>
Ask them if they've ever actually read an entire book, or even an
entire book chapter, off a computer screen (it's not fun). Then
explain why publishers do not make electronic books available in ways
that accommodate easy print copying.
John Maxstadt
Head of Public Services, Killam Library, Texas A&M International
University
==#5==
From: Thomas Izbicki <izbicki_at_jhu.edu>
A few points:
1. Not everything worthwhile is digitized, & there is no reason to
presume it will be. [And en masse digitization can produce an
unmanageable glut of material.]
2. Every collection has materials of artifactual value that should be
preserved even if they do not fit criteria for Special Collections.
[Victorian pictorial covers are examples of this.] These should be
protected off-site, not shoved around in that Stacks.
3. There are scholars who study the physical artifact & need access
to it, e.g., for History of the Book courses.
4. Interlibrary Loan costs are not negligible even for low-use titles.
My rule is that if we borrow it three times or more we should have
bought it. [That's why I bought the Harry Potter books.]
Needless to say, the counter arguments are:
1. Lack of space;
2. Costs of an off-site facility.
3. Desirability of Access when a program in a particular subject area
does not exist on your campus. [We do not teach Medicine or Music on
the Homewood campus & depend on other libraries, especially our own
Hopkins partners, for Access.]
Thomas Izbicki
Collection Development Coordinator
Eisenhower Library
Johns Hopkins
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410)516-7173
fax (410)516-8399
Received on Fri Feb 18 2005 - 03:15:27 EST