Integrating Print and Digital Resources in Library Collections

Citation

Stapleton, K. (2007), "Integrating Print and Digital Resources in Library Collections", Library Management, Vol. 28 No. 3, pp. 174-175. https://doi.org/10.1108/01435120710728036

Ah ha!, I thought – this will provide me with the answers to the dilemmas facing my library! Alas no, it seems that there are no definitive answers, but this book does provide food for thought.

The book is comprised of articles divided into three themes – issues and opinions, research and analysis, and histories and projects. I found most of them had something useful to add, although there were no earth‐shattering revelations or surprises. The articles are mainly from the viewpoint of academic and special libraries, but the principles could be applied across the board. I have highlighted below some of the themes and items that I found of interest.

David Ball, in “Signing Away Our Freedom: The Implications of Electronic Resource Licences”, points out that libraries are moving from not just purchasing physical products but extending our collections by buying a service – negotiated access to someone else's electronic product. There are important differences with regards to:

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  archiving (both the continued right to access if the subscription is no longer paid and the retention of content);

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  content (the service we buy today may not have the same range in the future as supplying publishers change);

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  rights of access (licensing restrictions may be imposed on limiting to a single location); and

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  usage rights (content may be licensed for use internally but sharing with other libraries for inter‐library lending is not permitted).

Bethany R. Levrault, in “Integration in Academic Reference Departments: From Print to Digital Resources”, questions current service models and the challenges involved in integrating electronic resources. How do libraries ensure that clients can easily discover and access the range of resources that have been carefully selected by the library? While the use of technological solutions is discussed, the author proposes that a hybrid library to provide seamless access to all our resources could provide a short‐term solution. The integration of the library and IT departments to form an “information commons” is also mentioned.

The article by James Andrew Buczynski considers whether or not books are being replaced by digital versions. His research into usage patterns of IT books and e‐books by computer technology students dispels this myth.

In “The Changing Format of Reference Collections: Are Research Libraries Favoring Electronic Access over Print?”, the authors discuss concerns about the permanence of electronic access. There are no guarantees! However, the researchers found that academic ARL libraries are favouring electronic over print formats. The reasons, though, have yet to be researched.

Larson and Morris discuss the impact that acquisitions of electronic resources have had on the workflows of their corporate library and the changes implemented as a consequence. Licensing, methods of access, cataloguing and copyright considerations are all discussed. Millet and Mueller discuss the same issues for their university library, but their article is from the perspective of management.

Karen Thompson Rosati reports on the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Library's study on the usage of their print journal collection over ten years. Interestingly, usage has decreased over time, even for titles where there is not an electronic version. The author conjectures that the unavailability of the print collection during renovations was a catalyst for moving from print to electronic.

“The Integrated Library System: From Innovation to Relegation to Innovation Again” comments on developments in ILS and potentials for the future, particularly with regard to the catalogue.

Audrey Fenner's collection provides a number of ideas and viewpoints. Consensus about a common way forward is yet to come. Perhaps it never will. I am sure that we are all sharing and learning from each other, but we need to hear about the solutions, not just the problems. Let's hope that this book will be followed by others showing us what works.