The finance of digital libraries

Citation

Walther, J.H. and Pastine, M. (2001), "The finance of digital libraries", The Bottom Line, Vol. 14 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/bl.2001.17014baa.001

The finance of digital libraries

The finance of digital libraries

Digital libraries and digitization of library collections are becoming an increasingly important and complex part of the library world. These activities have significant fiscal implications at all levels and demand special scrutiny from the library finance manager. This issue of The Bottom Line is devoted to the wide range of fiscal issues that digital libraries raise. Both in our lead article by Dr Brad Eden and in our column, "Dollars with sense", we include real-life examples on how to embark upon your digitization funding expedition. Dr Eden emphasizes the need for skills and talents for fund development for digital projects. In both articles, we are coached through the process of applying for funding through grant writing.

The opportunity for new services and new products has been greatly enhanced by the advent of digital libraries. Our first examined service is that of E-Reserves in an academic library. The authors describe their exciting new service and share key findings of their experience with course services in a digital environment. Organizational issues are an important consideration in their discussion.

Next is an article on electronic publishing in our digital world. E-journals are an often cited solution to our current problems with escalating serials costs and as a new option for scholarly communication. Dr Bruce Kingma from Syracuse University, presents his initial, cutting edge findings of his work on electronic journal publishing in mathematics. He highlights current trends and focuses on the bottom line for such acquisitions, including alternative pricing models. His study indicates what other concerns librarians must have in regards to electronic publishing, with some important new insights. On one hand, digital libraries will bring libraries vast opportunities, yet essential decisions will still have to be made in the management of fiscal resources for these sources.

Finally, we conclude this issue with two case studies of digitization success stories. The first is from the Commonwealth of Virginia and the second from Temple University. Both studies are of vital interest to libraries either currently involved in, or embarking on, digital projects. The last article, from Editorial Advisory Board Member, Maureen Pastine, University Library from Temple University, is especially noteworthy. Maureen judiciously assisted as my acquisitions editor for all of these digital articles. With members of her staff, she presents a telling and relevant "how to" approach to digitization that we always strive to publish in this journal.

This issue could not have been published without the unending and solid recommendations from three of our Editorial Advisory Board Members, Mr Kent C. Boese at the Smithsonian Institution Libraries, Mr Robert Newlen, Congressional Research Service, The Library of Congress and Ms Rachel Jones of Dickstein Shapiro, Morin and Oshinsky, LLP. We appreciate their time and interest in this special issue and expect you will enjoy the topical and timely issues as much as we have.

James H. WaltherEditor andMaureen PastineGuest Co-Editor andEditorial Advisory Board Member