High-speed digitization and the future of libraries

Citation

(2004), "High-speed digitization and the future of libraries", Interlending & Document Supply, Vol. 32 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ilds.2004.12232bab.009

High-speed digitization and the future of libraries

High-speed digitization and the future of libraries

An announcement from Stanford U suggests that books will give way to electronic resources spelling the end of interlending. However the suggestion is made in the context of a scanner that must have cost a fortune and that copies a book 20 minutes. Hardly a threat to ILL or indeed the printed book. I calculate that it would take about 100 working days just to do my personal library of about 2000 books (Ed.)!

A robotic scanner, custom built for Stanford University, is systematically digitizing parts of the university library's vast collection – over eight million volumes. Resembling a giant copier, the 4DigitalBooks robot quickly and automatically scans about 1,000 pages per hour – a complete 300-page book in 20 minutes. Stanford University Librarian Michael Keller, who oversees the project, says, “It's rigorously consistent – the page is always flat, the image is always good, and software conversion allows you to index the text so you can search it.” Rare books, however, are another matter. “We're very concerned about (them), so we haven't put any manuscripts on the robot. Instead, we use a technology based on the same cameras, (but turn) the pages by hand.” In the next 10 to 20 years, Keller believes more and more information will be presented in digital form. “I suspect books will continue to be useful and important, and we'll (still) see them published. But people will find more and more of their information online, and the number of books will decrease.” Stanford, for instance, is planning a science and engineering library whose goal is to have no books on the shelves. http://www.honco.net/os/index.html

Source: Shelflife No 140, 22 January 2004, available at: www.rlg.org.