Economics of Digital Information: Collection, Storage and Delivery

Citation

Nurcombe, V.J. (1999), "Economics of Digital Information: Collection, Storage and Delivery", Library Review, Vol. 48 No. 8, pp. 413-424. https://doi.org/10.1108/lr.1999.48.8.413.8

Each of these thematic journal issues is simultaneously published in book format, including even the back cover. All are well indexed and frequently are proceedings of seminars. This series of papers was delivered at a conference of the same title sponsored by the University of Oklahoma Libraries in March 1997, of which Sul Lee is dean. It has taken some time to get into print. The book explores the evolving legal and economic models of licensing and pricing in the digital domain to help professionals incorporate digitisation into library planning and policy development. Key issues are highlighted. The emphasis is on digitising the collections already in‐house rather than on purchasing and presenting digital products.

Each paper examines the various aspects involved with the digitisation process rather than the future of the electronic library and electronic publications, which is heavily implied. That the future is digital does not appear to be in doubt. Thomas W. Shaughnessy, of the University of Minnesota, examines the planning and policy issues to set the scene. Barbara McFadden Allen uses the experiences of the Committee of Consortial Co‐operation as a model for negotiating digital information system licenses without “losing your shirt or your soul”. Following from this Kelly L. Frey’s discussion of business models and pricing issues presents the various current practices. The president of CARL Corporation, Rebecca Lenzini, discusses the aggregators and content providers, giving insight into the strategy of the providers and their future thinking.

Collection development and management collaboratively is the theme of Donald B. Simpson’s paper. Meredith A. Butler of the State University of New York then takes the collection development further to consider the preservation of the past for the future, particularly the problems concerned with the electronic resource itself. The not inconsiderable financial and other implications are well covered and complemented by the economic issues on paper storage which follow in Malcolm Getz’ paper on “Evaluating digital strategies for storing and retrieving scholarly information”. Bringing this theme together is the task of John R. Secor of the Yankee Book Peddler Inc. He does it by expressing concern for the phases of change and the rhetoric of change as librarians’ view of the digital library is inevitably intertwined with the management and planning of change. This is the main theme of current thought in the business world. The millennium and the two decades which surround it are times of great change and these plans and models suggest how great that challenge will be to the information manager.

Most papers are well referenced and there is a brief index. The value of the text has to be in the discussion of the pros and cons and methodology rather than as a practical guide. The arguments for spending precious dollars on conversion and digitised materials are compelling but there are concerns and issues to be addressed still, particularly in integration and availability for all to all types of information, no matter what the format. Although this will eventually date the actual advice, the issues may remain current for some time. The sections on negotiating licences and on distinguishing the “information from the noise” in the new Hyde Park Corner of the Web, remain intriguing.