Special Collections and Archives

While many research libraries have begun to digitize their collections and share best practices around the steps required to create digital content, much less is known about what happens post-launch. Building on previous research by Ithaka S+R that defined key aspects of sustainable digital content, Appraising our Digital Investment: Sustainability of Digitized Special Collections in ARL Libraries offers a first look at the practices, attitudes, costs, and revenues associated with caring for digitized special collections. The report shares results from a survey conducted on the sustainability of digitized special collections at ARL member institutions.

 digitizing-special-collections-report-21feb13.pdf

Photo of Jack Kerouac manuscript, image © Thomas HawkARL and Ithaka S+R today released Appraising our Digital Investment: Sustainability of Digitized Special Collections in ARL Libraries, a report on findings from an ARL-Ithaka S+R survey of ARL libraries on the range of activities and expenses that libraries undertake to support their digitized special collections.

Philip N. Cronenwett, Kevin Osborn, Samuel A. Streit, eds. • 2007 • ISBN 978-1-59407-769-2 • 312 pp., 402 illus., index

This compendium includes 118 special collection profiles, each from a different ARL member library. Each profile is illustrated with color photographs and tells a story of a single collection, recounting how the resources were acquired and developed. Also included is an introductory essay by British rare book expert Nicolas Barker and an appendix that provides a broad description of each library's special collection holdings and pertinent contact information. The book contains a detailed index; the companion Web site provides a search engine.

Print copies are also available for $135 ($115 ARL members) plus shipping & handling.

RLI issue 279 includes:

• Digitization of Special Collections and Archives: Legal and Contractual Issues
• Model Deed of Gift
• Model Deed of Gift, including Mixed IP Rights
• Model Digitization Agreement
• Copyright Risk Management: Principles and Strategies for Large-Scale Digitization Projects in Special Collections