As technology continues to change and improve, so do the ways in which we access and utilize it. Recent strives to digitize countless books, have led to an issue of usability, access and, of course, funding. The idea behind digitizing these books is that they will become accessible to everyone in the world. No longer will a rare book need to be tracked down and visited in person. This is something that the modern generation, which expects information at their fingertips, will come to enjoy and rely on. The issue becomes, how will these digitizations efforts be funded? Although various government initiatives have provided some fundings for the program, it is not enough. Private supporters, such as Google, are often willing to contribute towards digitization. However, these donors are frequently seeking personal gain or public acknowledgements. Some have discussed charging fees for various services or functions, such as viewing items in higher resolution. As digitization efforts continue, it will be necessary for organizations and libraries to be aware of where the funding is coming from and what stipulations are included on the fine print of each check.
Notes from the following required readings:
1) Vaughan, J. (2005). Lied Library @ four years: technology never stands still. Library Hi Tech, 23(1), 34-49.
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