Digital Libraries &

Children’s Libraries

© Malore I. Brown, Ph.D.

Rutgers University
[email protected]
 Digital Libraries & Children’s
Libraries
• OUTLINE
• Overview - process of collection development
• Identify challenges of collection development in
digital libraries
• Highlight practice issues in selecting and
accessing both types of collections.
• Discussion – concerns in selection
 Definitions of Collection
Development
• 1st edition Evans, 1979 • 4th edition Evans, 2000
• “ the process of • “ the process of meeting
identifying the strengths the information needs of
and weaknesses of a the people ( a service
library’s materials population) in a timely
collection in terms of and economic manner
patron needs and using information
community resources and resources locally held as
attempting to correct well as from other
existing weaknesses, if organizations.”
any.”
 Definitions of Collection
Development

• The definitions have changed over 20 years.

• Emphasis on “information needs” and not just
“materials.”
• Emphasis on “TIME”
• Seeking both internal and external information
resources.
 The Concept of Collections
• In a traditional library distinctive qualities:
 Objects – actual documents, physical location and
presence.
 Location – building
 Economics- ownership of the object through
purchase
 Access- tangible, physical, actual
 Collection
Development
• Selection and collection development are
arts, not sciences...a person wishing to
practice the art must devote years to
developing the necessary skills.
• All libraries share a certain general
characteristic:
– the need to assemble a collection
materials needed by their patrons.
 Collection
Development
• Basic elements of collection development:

– determine what information resources are

needed
– identify the appropriate items
– acquire the items
– evaluate the collection
 Collection Development

• Primary purpose of libraries and

information centers is to assist in the
transfer of information and the
development of knowledge.  
 Collection Development
• “Digital Libraries”in Library collections are a new
format within libraries.
• An evolution of sorts – changing the way we look at
collections.
• A new revolution – everything is new
• How do libraries deal with these changes?
 What is a Digital Library?
• Two major conceptualizations:
1. Distributed objects - various forms, distributed access,
representation, operability (computer science)
2. Institution, collection, services, availability (libraries)
• First is research perspective
• focus on a range of research problems, with little or no
operations; “D-lib” very broadly interpreted
• Second is library operational perspective
• focus on practical problems of transforming library institutions
and services, with little or no research; “D-lib” very specifically
interpreted.
 Research Definition
"Digital libraries are organized collections of digital information.
They combine the structuring and gathering of information,
which libraries and archives have always done, with the
digital representation that computers have made possible.”
Lesk, 1997

“Digital library is a managed collection of information, with

associated services, where information is stored in digital
formats and accessible over a network.” Arms, 2000
 Library Definition
“Digital libraries are organizations that provide the
resources, including the specialized staff, to select,
structure, offer intellectual access to, interpret,
distribute, preserve the integrity of, and ensure the
persistence over time of collections of digital works
so that they are readily and economically available
for use by a defined community or set of
communities.”
Digital Libraries Federation (DLF)
 Emergence of Digital
Libraries
• Digital information systems evolved from:
– Online databases for searching
– Online Catalog
– Electronic reference databases
– Full-text digital articles and journals and digital
collections
– New forms of scholarly communications, e-
publications, e-archives in numerous fields.
 Digital Collection

• Changes the way users look for information

• Changes the way librarians select “materials”
• Changes the way librarians “own” materials
• Changes the technical and network environment
• Changes access
 Digital Collection
• A collection of virtual, digital and multimedia information
resources.
– Selected/created using collection policy
– User community defined
– Owned, licensed or free access
– Possible resource sharing – consortia
– Adapted for a network environment
– Linked to other collections
– Collection not in one physical location
 Advantages of Digital Libraries
• Access: brings library to users
– always available; broad range delivery
– many libraries now possible to use
• Sharing: information resources; linking
• Currency: very timely, up-to-date information
• Searching, browsing: use of computer power
• Information resources: new forms possible
• Services: endless possibilities
• Costs: may save effort, money??
 Major Challenges of Digital
Libraries

• Involves a variety of
intangible objects:
• External: e-
publications, e-
journals, e-books,
multimedia.
• Bridging the digital
divide
• Resistance to new
technology
 Major Challenges of Digital
Libraries
• Involves a variety of intangible objects:

• Internal: actual objects, collections, databases created

within the library.
• Gateways: directories, portals
– Links selected, organized, evaluated
 Economic Challenge
• Challenge of ownership v. access
• Collection limited to monetary funds available
• Licensing to electronic publications (dependent on time
and restrictions of use)
• Sharing – costs and access through a consortia
• Charging – passing on costs to users, subsidizing
• Economics of e-publishing
 Location Challenge
• In-house local network
• Dependent of Internet and networked arrangements.
• Distributed to large number of locations.
– Becomes several collections
– Lose control over distributed resources
 Challenge of Access
• How are resources accessed?
– Information retrieval for searching
– Search engines
– Navigation
• Levels of access.
– Dependent on policy and license
– Partial –cannot access all information
– Full – dependent on arrangement
• Security.
 The Information Environment
• from print  digital
• from local  international
• from secure  uncertain
• from poverty  overload
• from service  empowerment
 The changing information
environment of the 21st
Century
• complex and fluid
• connective and interactive
• diverse, ambiguous and unpredictable
• no longer constrained by time, place and national
boundaries: e-environment
• info place  info space  knowledge space
• information overload potential
 Subject Specific Services
• An assembly of web pages specific to children or
young adults as a user group - links
• A collection of CD-ROM databases for children
– e.g. encyclopedias, educational software
• Subscribing to online services for use by children and
the adults who work with them
• Internet connection – training of proper use
 Digital Libraries & Children’s Libraries

• The next few slides include a sample of what is

available on the web for children’s digital libraries:
• Sample web pages for children’s librarians, teachers,
or any adults who are interested in Children’s
Services.
• Sample web pages from encyclopedias online – e.g.
Britannica.com and Microsoft Encarta (both searchable
online)
 Digital Libraries & Children’s Libraries

• In searching these sites keep in mind that search

strategies used in regular online databases is
preferred. (i.e. Boolean and keyword searching)

• Teaching these searching strategies to children is also

important.
 Practical Issues in Selection
• Online Services – licensing agreements
• CD-ROMs – cost, networking, circulating or only in-
house use.
• Training – for staff and children (possibly teachers
and parents)
• Internet use – Acceptable Use Policies, chat room
use, e-mail
• Book marking web sites prior to children’s use
• Evaluating sites, products, trial periods
 Conclusion
• Digital Libraries provide a great service, excellent
access to resources, opportunities to see and do more.
• A great challenge economically.
• Challenge to decide what services are the best
• Digital Libraries have been an extension from
traditional library services.
• Don’t worry libraries are here to stay! We just have
additional services now.
 Discussion
Let’s discuss specific concerns in selection of
resources in children’s libraries. (Digital or
traditional)

THANK YOU!