Summary of the Survey Findings
Technology use: One hundred percent of academic libraries that responded indicated they currently use some kinds of technologies. The technologies most in use are: Access to Internet, e-mail, Web site, desktop computers, computerized catalogs, and standard office software. Below this group are technologies in use in 57 percent to 80 percent of the academic libraries: network servers, desktop publishing software, database software for collections management, accounting/payroll software, and Intranets.
When asked about implementing technologies in the coming year, there were significantly fewer responses. Adding 'video tours' and 'notebook (laptop) computers' were noted most often.
Digitization: Thirty-four percent of academic libraries reported digitization activities within the past 12 months. Nineteen percent expect to be involved in digitization work in the next 12 months, and 44 percent beyond 12 months.
Hindrances to digitization include lack of funds, other institutional priorities, concerns about the costs of preservation and management, and staff issues, such as expertise and time.
The highest priority in academic digitization efforts is increasing access to books, journals, documents, etc. The collections they focus on are historical documents and archives, photographs, and course material.
Thirty-eight percent of the academic libraries that are digitizing reported that they cooperate with other organizations in digitization programs.
Only eight percent of academic libraries have digitization policies currently in place, though 16 percent report having some in development.
Six percent have listed their digital content in a digital register, though 21 percent list digital content in their online catalogs.
Key respondent demographics
- At the time the surveys were sent, there were 3,862 academic libraries eligible for surveying. Surveys were sent to 300 academic libraries and 80 responses were received. The response rate was 27 percent.
- The confidence level for the academic library data is 90 percent (+/- 10 percent), which means the data are a reliable indicator of trends.
The Status of Technology - Academic Libraries
What technologies (hardware and software) does your institution currently use for its day-to-day operations? What technologies does it plan to acquire or implement in the next 12 months?
Figure 32 lists the technologies used by academic libraries in descending order. Six "basic" technologies reported by academic libraries are highlighted.
Figure 32: Technologies Currently in Use in Academic Libraries
There were considerably fewer responses (a maximum of six) to the question about technologies planned in the next 12 months:
- None of the above (37 percent)
- Video tours (21 percent)
- Notebook (laptop) computers (16 percent)
- Computerized catalog of your library collection (12 percent)
- Database software for collections management (12 percent)
| |
Exemplary Project: Teachers Redraw Lesson Plans with Art Databases
Art treasures from around the world are making their way into classrooms in central Indiana. An IMLS LSTA-funded National Leadership Grant supports a joint project of the libraries of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Museum of Art that delivers images of artworks directly to teachers through the Internet. The project is proving that the study of art enhances a variety of subjects, including geography, math, and science. http://www.imls.gov/closer/archive/hlt_c0700.htm | |
|
What are the current sources of funds for this technology? (Check all that apply.)
- The highest responses were:
- Operating funds (73 percent)
- State funds (5 percent)
- Gifts from donors (32 percent)
- IMLS (15 percent)
- No funding for technology (no responses)
What technology does your institution currently use for programming? (Check all that apply.) What does it plan to use for programming in the next 12 months that it does not currently use?
- Sixty-one percent of academic libraries indicate that technology is currently used to support programming. More than 54 percent indicate they plan to add programming technologies in the next 12 months.
- The most common uses are 'Educational programs presented to the public via the Web' (37 percent) and 'Educational programs presented via onsite computer' (34 percent).
- 'Providing programs and exhibits on our Web site' is the technology most often planned (28 percent).
Technology is useful for your institution's programming because…?
- Provides a richer educational experience (74 percent)
- Increases the number of people who learn from programs (69 percent)
- Makes programs more interactive (68 percent)
What hinders the use of technology in your institution's programming?
- 'Cost' (73 percent) and 'Lack of staff expertise' (53 percent) were identified as hindrances.
Digitization Plans, Practices, and Policies - Academic Libraries
In the past 12 months, have you been or are you currently involved in digitization, for example, current projects, funding, setting standards, implementing, etc.?
Figure 33 summarizes the responses to questions about current and future digitization activities.
Figure 33: Current and Planned Digitization Activities in Academic Libraries
| |
Exemplary Project: A New Way of Playing Old Songs
The Johns Hopkins University maintains one of the country's largest online collections of sheet music, with images of more than 29,000 pages of popular American music from 1780 to 1960. In an ambitious project supported by an IMLS LSTA-funded National Leadership Grant, the collection will be enhanced allowing users to see the sheet music images, play the scores, and search the lyrics with pinpoint accuracy. The collection will also serve as a testbed for a workflow management system that can help other large collection holders streamline the process of creating digital library repositories. http://www.imls.gov/closer/archive/hlt_l0900.htm | |
|
What hinders your efforts at digitization?
As academic libraries look to the next 12 months, they ranked four hindrances the same: 'Lack of funding to support digitization,' 'Other projects have higher priorities,' 'Other' comments that emphasized lack of staff and staff time, and 'Not applicable.' Figure 34 shows the rank among responses.
Figure 34: Ranking of Digitization Hindrances in Academic Libraries
As academic libraries look to the next 12 months, they ranked four hindrances the same: 'Lack of funding to support digitization,' 'Other projects have higher priorities,' 'Other' comments that emphasized lack of staff and staff time, and 'Not applicable.' Figure 34 shows the rank among responses.
What are the primary goals for your institution's digitizing activities?
Respondents were asked to rank their three most important goals from a list. Figure 35 shows the overall ranking for each item.
Figure 35: Highest Priority Digitization Goals in Academic Libraries
What materials has your institution selected for digitization? (Check all that apply.)
Materials cited by academic libraries that reported digitization activities:
- Historical documents and archives (33 percent)
- Photographs (25 percent)
- Course material (25 percent)
Materials for future digitization efforts would also include 'Images of artifacts.'
- 'Not applicable' was the most frequent response (49 percent) to the question of what is being digitized.
Where do you currently obtain funds to support your digitizing efforts? (Check all that apply.)
Academic libraries with funding for digitization activities (22 percent) cited these funding sources:
- Operating funds (25 percent)
- State funds (14 percent)
- IMLS grants (11 percent) (IMLS' grant programs funded through LSTA)
| |
Exemplary Project: Teaching with Digital Content-Describing, Finding, Using Digital Cultural Heritage Materials
Teaching with digital primary source documents makes a range of exciting possibilities available to teachers, librarians, and museum curators and educators. Yet it also brings new challenges. New programs need to be developed to integrate digital primary source materials into K-12 curriculum and assignments, as well as into the educational programs of museums and libraries. An IMLS LSTA-funded National Leadership Grant project at the University of Illinois Library at Urbana-Champaign helps these educators incorporate digitized primary source materials into their classes. They obtain technology training, learn how to create digital collections that provide historical context, explore the use of modes of communication, such as e-mail discussion lists, and study strategies to enhance visual literacy. http://images.library.uiuc.edu/projects/tdc/ | |
|
Does your institution cooperate with other organizations to develop digitization programs, i.e. partnerships, consortia, etc.?
- Almost 38 percent of academic libraries currently digitizing report that they are in cooperative arrangements, most frequently citing other 'Academic libraries,' 'State library agencies,' and 'Consortia,' as partners.
- More than 62 percent of academic libraries currently digitizing are not in cooperative arrangements with other institutions.
- For academic libraries currently digitizing, 91 percent reported that they play no role in digitization projects beyond their institution. Similarly, for academic libraries not currently digitizing, 91 percent reported that they play no role in digitization projects beyond their institution.
Does your institution have digitization policies in place? In development?
- Eight percent of responding academic libraries have digitization policies currently in place.
- Sixteen percent of the libraries have digitization policies in development. The most frequently cited subject for developing policies is 'Preservation.'
Does your institution allow access to its digital collection by the public?
- Eighty-seven percent of academic libraries that have some portion of their collection digitized report that they allow access to their digital collections, primarily though the Web, followed by their own computer networks.
- For those academic libraries that allow access, the primary target audiences are 'Faculty at your institution' (47 percent) and 'Researchers/scholars' (41 percent).
- Seventy-two percent of these academic libraries give free access (no charge) to 'Anyone with Internet access.'
Are your digital products listed with any digital registry?
- Only six percent of responding academic libraries have digital products listed with a registry.
- Twenty-one percent have digital products listed in their own catalogs.
|
