Denis' Wiki-Report: Digitization
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[edit] Summary
Digitization has become the buzzword in libraries and archives nationwide. While not every administrator, library, or archivist fully understands the processes involved, everybody swears it is "the future". In this report I hope to be able to explain what digitization is, where and why it is used, any overriding benefits and detractors.
[edit] What is digitization
In the purest form of the word, digitization is; the conversion to and storage of analog media in a digital form. Worthy of note here, is the distinction between analog and digital at a reasonably low level. Analog signals and media are continuous streams of data. Digital signals and media, however, are finite sets of ones and zeros that attempt to approximate the analog original.
A couple of examples may be worthwhile here:
When you grab a pen and paper, the product is analog. The pen strokes are fluid motions and each instance of a specific character is relatively unique. In digital equivalent, such as a word processing document, all of the letter a’s will look and be stored the same. While this lends to easy compression and storage, very few individual characteristics of the written document are left.
A single note coming from the plucking of a guitar string would be an analog signal. The sound coming from the string is a continuous wave and if you could listen to it much faster than humans could you would hear it as a relatively continuous tone. If this note were recorded as an MP3 and played back, rather than a continuous wave, it is actually a set of sounds played very quickly together so that to the human ear it sounds continuous. If you were, once again, able to listen at a faster rate (sampling rate) you would find that it sounded choppy or blocky.
We have all seen the artifacts of digitalization. The inability of a computer to draw diagonal line so that when it is zoomed into it looks jagged. The way a digital TV signal will turn blocky and odd colors when signal strength gets low as opposed to the picture softening as it did with old analog signals. The way that satellite radio can go from crystal-clear to cutting out completely when driving by some buildings rather than fading or getting scratchy.
[edit] Why is it Used?
The examples and tidbits above would surely have most people questioning why one would digitize one's collection.
- Portability -- the digitization of books allows them to be stored online or put into inexpensive memory devices. An example of this is my Sony eReader, which can hold hundreds of books yet only weighs a few ounces. (please see this site/wiki for a great collection of free downloadable books http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page)
- Size -- while a bound volume occupies physical storage space on a shelf in a library, the digitized version of the same book can be stored on a hard drive along with thousands of similar books, effectively reducing its physical size to almost zero.
- Cost -- the overhead to run a library is high. Generally they are placed in downtown areas with high property values, require reasonably high staffing to patron ratios, have to be built to higher than average codes at higher than average costs. On the other hand, a collection of digital media can sit on one or two servers, on somebody else's property with only a leasing fee to pay.
- Safety -- by offering digital media, the original media can be archived and saved without contamination or risk of negligent destruction by patrons.
- Access -- probably the single largest reason for a library or archives to digitize its media is to provide accessibility to a greater market. Digital media can be served via the Internet or e-mail. It can be retrieved and viewed on computers, handheld devices, smart phones, or other digital media delivery devices (Smart TV, etc.)
[edit] Where is it used?
Considering the incredible hype in our society pushing for more or more digitization of all things accessed by the consumer (iTunes, digital TV, news on the Web, etc.) it is surprising that relatively few of the assets in our local library (Leon County public Library) and the State of Florida Archives are currently being digitized.
Edward Tribble, ex-state archivist for the State of Florida, still keeps up with day-to-day activities occurring in the archives. He was quick to share his surprise at the low level of digitization occurring within the state archive. He did however point out, that they were very proud of the strides being made to make the State photo collection available online.
Similarly, the LeRoy Collins Public Library (Leon County, FL) is offering audio and visual materials, digitized and available for download. They however have no active program for digitizing their print media collection.
Google, entrepreneurs and pioneers in almost everything, have spearheaded digitization campaigns on a number of campuses in the United States. Having offered the services of digitizing the print media in these collections, they then offer them online under their reference search.
[edit] Detractors to Digitization?
While there are obviously many advantages to digitizing one's collection, nothing comes without a price. Just a few of the potential consequences are:
- Standards -- while the Library of Congress has set standards for digitization (resolution, file type, color depth, compression acceptance, etc.), not all organizations choose to follow these standards. As an example, the Florida State Archives standards do not meet the Library of Congress standards. This can, at a minimum, lead to confusion, but more likely will lead to much of the digitized media not falling under future guidelines of acceptance.
- Cost -- the investment necessary to digitize any collection is sizable. While the equipment may appear expensive on the surface, the labor involved in digitizing any large collection can quickly break the budget of most libraries and state agencies.
- Patron-ship (I may have invented that word) -- while the numbers of people using libraries for their books has arguably dropped in recent years, libraries have stepped up (like any business) and increased their "value added services". There is a fear that over digitization will keep more and more patrons from physically visiting libraries and therefore potentially leading to questions of their need in society.
- Theft -- Digital Rights Management (DRM) can be awkward or impossible to manage from the server-side. In digitizing one's collection, you are quite possibly, opening up your organization to untold litigation if you distribute these digital works improperly.
[edit] Summary
It appears obvious to a "techno-geek" like me that almost all printed sources will be digitized and available online in the not too distant future (read 10 years). In the long run, it not only makes sense to protect your print assets by offering more durable digital offerings, the ability to view, read, and research materials virtually can lead to a whole new revenue stream for struggling libraries and institutions.
[edit] Bibliography
While I did use sites such as Wikipedia and Google to do the reading in preparation for this paper, I also used FSU's library database as well as discussions with peers and professionals.
Franklin, B. (2004, July). Library usage patterns in the electronic information environment. Retrieved December 2007, from IR Information Resources: http://informationr.net/ir/9-4/paper187.html
Walshe, E. (2007, October). The Dark Side of Digitization. Retrieved December 2007, from The Johns Hopkins University Press: http://muse.jhu.edu.proxy.lib.fsu.edu/journals/portal_libraries_and_the_academy/v007/7.4walshe.html
