In response to the query from N Shailaja of Deccan Herald in this forum Volume 66, Issue 20, I am providing some information regarding the digital conversion of library materials. The process of digitalization is time consuming and costly. Hence a proper planning is required in that respect. The major aspects we have to think about are : 1.Hardware requirements 2.Software requirements 3.Benchmarking 4.Storage formats and media 1.Hardware requirements Personal Computers with the present day configuration are more than enough for undertaking digitalization processes. As you have a lot of back up data better to have more disk space. RAM capacity also could be enhanced as you have to deal with graphic data. Scanners of various capacities are available in the market from Heavy duty Scanners to simple flat bed scanners. If you need to undertake OCR conversion, see that the software attached to the scanner has that facility. 2.Software requirements The software attached to scanners is suitable to carry out digitalization works. Abbey Fine reader is an OCR software. The twain utility attached to Photoshop is also helpful in scanning. He scanned images could be later edited for clarity in the Photoshop software itself. 3.Benchmarking We are not at all going to convert all materials that are available in our library into digital format. Then we will have to think of a selection process. A policy has to be framed to select documents for digital conversion. It should be reasonable. While making such a policy, copy right restrictions should be taken into consideration. 4.Storage format and Media Scanned image could be stored in various available digital formats. TIFF, PDF, JPEG etc are some of the formats that could be used. Adobe Acrobat TM software could be used to add security regulations to your scanned documents. It can be used to add metadata elements along with the documents. Dr GOPAKUMAR V. Librarian (UGC), University College,Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram, PIN 695 034. gopakumar.v@rediffmail.com Mobile No: 09447056713 -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.