Dear Moderator,

This is in connection with the ongoing discussion on the modalities of Digitization. I would like to put forth the following points concerning policy to be adopted for the selection of materials in a library to be digitized.

1.                   Meeting the concern of copyright restrictions: In the Indian context 60 years is the period when a copyright to a published material holds valid. That is to say, we will not breaching any copyright obligation if we go for documents published by 1948 (2008-60=1948)

2.                   But fulfilling the copyright law demand should not make a librarian to conclude that now he/she is free for digitizing any old library material. Every penny to be spent has to be valued in terms of return. We are obliged to be conscientious as the Digitization is costly process- money wise as well as time wise.

3.                   How to avoid duplication? A number of libraries may be digitizing the same document.

4.                   Does the document to be digitized have any readership? This should be of particular concern for a librarian going to digitize printed books & documents.

5.                   Digitization for preservation purpose as one often hears has to be taken only in case of rare documents and manuscripts.

6.                   Digitization of Theses and post-graduate level Dissertations is greatly recommended.

7.                   Similarly, one can readily digitize the class notes, lectures etc. of the academic staff.

8.                   The Syllabus and Question papers can be also digitize on priority basis with a link to the digitized collection on the library Webpage, etc. & etc.

My own preference is to start with the creation of ETD (electronic Theses & Dissertation) database for every University.

I hope this topic will receive more attention from our professional community, better with a brief case study type presentation.

Regards

TANWIR