Teaching Digital Teaching Digital Collections Collections

Management: Issues and Management: Issues and Priorities for the FuturePriorities for the Future

Terry WeechTerry Weech

Graduate School of Library and Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the Information Science at the University of Illinois. USAUniversity of Illinois. USA

Eve GausEve GausAmerican Library Association, American Library Association,

Chicago, IL USAChicago, IL USA

Who am I?Who am I?I teach in a variety of subject I teach in a variety of subject areas including Collection areas including Collection Development and a required Development and a required Core Course in the Master’s Core Course in the Master’s degree curriculum that includes degree curriculum that includes collection management issues.collection management issues.

I have also been involved with I have also been involved with collection management collection management assessment over the years in a assessment over the years in a variety of contextsvariety of contexts

My University LibraryMy University Library

http://www.library.illinois.edu/index.html

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•Almost 40,000 students, of which ¼ are graduate or professional

•Largest public university collection in the world with over 10 million volumes

•More than 40 departmental libraries and divisions

About the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

My StudentsMy StudentsMajority of my students in the LIS Majority of my students in the LIS

(Library and Information Science) (Library and Information Science) Master’s degree program, which is Master’s degree program, which is the first Professional Degree in the the first Professional Degree in the U.S., find employment in libraries or U.S., find employment in libraries or library related organizations. library related organizations.

Thus, Digital Collections Thus, Digital Collections Management as well as traditional Management as well as traditional collections management issues are collections management issues are of interest to the students in our of interest to the students in our program. program.

What is a Digital What is a Digital Collection?Collection?

A digital collection is a group of electronic A digital collection is a group of electronic knowledge resources developed and maintained knowledge resources developed and maintained in order to meet the information needs for a in order to meet the information needs for a given user population. given user population.

A "digital library" is a collection of digital A "digital library" is a collection of digital collections. A "digital library" can mean collections. A "digital library" can mean different things to different people. For different things to different people. For example, someone with a background in example, someone with a background in computer science may view a digital library as computer science may view a digital library as networked or distributed information system, networked or distributed information system, while a librarian may define a digital library as while a librarian may define a digital library as a digital counterpart of the physical library. a digital counterpart of the physical library. Actually, a digital library may encompass either Actually, a digital library may encompass either of these concepts. of these concepts.

Above definitions adapted from: Above definitions adapted from: http://home.wlu.edu/~whaleyt/classes/DigiLib/Whaley/Definition.html

Development vs. Development vs. ManagementManagementSelect “Good Books” Select “Good Books”

vs.vs.Obtain best Financial DealObtain best Financial Deal

Develop a Unique or Specialized Develop a Unique or Specialized Collection Collection

vs.vs.Maintain cost-effective collectionMaintain cost-effective collection

History of Collection History of Collection DevelopmentDevelopment

Much of 20Much of 20thth Century: Century: In Public Libraries: Collection to support In Public Libraries: Collection to support

Reader’s Advisory ServiceReader’s Advisory ServiceIn Academic Libraries: Collection to In Academic Libraries: Collection to

support Teaching Curricula and Library support Teaching Curricula and Library Use InstructionUse Instruction

In Research Libraries: Collection to In Research Libraries: Collection to support Research Missionsupport Research Mission

History of Collection History of Collection DevelopmentDevelopment

Much of 20Much of 20thth Century: Century: Selection based on needs assessment (users Selection based on needs assessment (users

and potential users)and potential users)Collection use studiesCollection use studiesCollection analysis (Conspectus and other Collection analysis (Conspectus and other

methods)methods)Budget managementBudget managementPlanning for Resource SharingPlanning for Resource Sharing

History of Collection History of Collection DevelopmentDevelopment

2121stst Century: Century: Transition from faculty collection development in Transition from faculty collection development in

academic libraries to the professionalization of academic libraries to the professionalization of Selection. Selection.

More emphasis on networks and collaboration. More emphasis on networks and collaboration.

Move away from local collection to a global or Move away from local collection to a global or shared collection. shared collection.

Issues of Open Access & Institutional RepositoriesIssues of Open Access & Institutional Repositories

History of Collection History of Collection DevelopmentDevelopment

2121stst Century: Century: Focus on Information Literacy in all Focus on Information Literacy in all

Libraries with goal of “self-service” library.Libraries with goal of “self-service” library.

Transition from Quality and Specialized Transition from Quality and Specialized Collections to Comprehensive Access to Collections to Comprehensive Access to Digital Resources.Digital Resources.

Pre-Digital Collections Pre-Digital Collections CoursesCourses

Identify and evaluate the reviewing sources.Identify and evaluate the reviewing sources.

Obtain data on the information needs of users.Obtain data on the information needs of users.

Collection development policies & procedures.Collection development policies & procedures.

Resource sharing and networking.Resource sharing and networking.

Evaluation of resources in all formats.Evaluation of resources in all formats.

Intellectual freedom issuesIntellectual freedom issues

Copyright laws and collections.Copyright laws and collections.

Collection EvaluationCollection Evaluation

Post-Digital Collections Post-Digital Collections CoursesCourses

Contains most of Pre-Digital content plus: Contains most of Pre-Digital content plus: • Acquisition ProceduresAcquisition Procedures• BudgetingBudgeting• LicensingLicensing• Vendor NegotiationVendor Negotiation• Access vs. Ownership Access vs. Ownership

Digital Collections Digital Collections Issues in Digital Library Issues in Digital Library

CoursesCoursesVaries greatly from course to Varies greatly from course to course, but in general:course, but in general:

Intellectual Property and copyrightIntellectual Property and copyright

Security Security

PrivacyPrivacy

Digital Collections Digital Collections Issues in Digital Issues in Digital Library CoursesLibrary Courses

Pomerantz and others in 2006 published an Pomerantz and others in 2006 published an analysis of the digital library course syllabi in analysis of the digital library course syllabi in ALA accredited programs and found that ALA accredited programs and found that collection development was third in the collection development was third in the frequency of reading topics found in digital frequency of reading topics found in digital library syllabi. Only “Project Management” and library syllabi. Only “Project Management” and “Architecture” exceeded the Collection “Architecture” exceeded the Collection Development readings. Development readings.

(Pomerantz, 2006, Figure 2: Distribution of readings (Pomerantz, 2006, Figure 2: Distribution of readings across topics).across topics).

Model CurriculumModel CurriculumThe Digital Library Curriculum The Digital Library Curriculum

Development Project Development Project (Virginia Tech (Virginia Tech and the University of North Carolina, and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)Chapel Hill) has as its goal the has as its goal the development of a model curriculum development of a model curriculum for digital library education.for digital library education.

In 2009, ModuleIn 2009, Module 3a “Collection 3a “Collection Development/Selection Development/Selection Policies” had not been Policies” had not been completedcompleted

Issues & Priorities for Issues & Priorities for the Futurethe Future

Is the lack of completion of the Is the lack of completion of the Digital Collections Management Digital Collections Management module indicative of a problem in module indicative of a problem in our LIS education? our LIS education?

What should be the Priority in LIS What should be the Priority in LIS Education for Digital Collections Education for Digital Collections Management? Management?

ConclusionsConclusionsYes, the lack of completion of the Digital Yes, the lack of completion of the Digital

Collections Management module is a Collections Management module is a problem in our LIS education!problem in our LIS education!

The Priority in LIS Education for Digital The Priority in LIS Education for Digital Collections Management should be to Collections Management should be to integrate the best of collections management integrate the best of collections management course content into digital collections course content into digital collections courses courses or or integrate digital library education integrate digital library education into the LIS education curriculum into the LIS education curriculum

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What are your opinions of What are your opinions of Education for Digital Education for Digital Collections Management? Collections Management?

Questions or Questions or Comments? Comments?

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Terry WeechTerry Weech e-mail: e-mail: weech@illinois.edu

Eve GausEve Gaus e-mail: evegaus@gmail.come-mail: evegaus@gmail.com

Thank YouThank You