Digitizaton of Library Materials In Academic Libraries: Issues for Consideration

Abstract

Academic libraries are increasingly becoming digital conscious. Hundreds of libraries and allied institutions all over the world have been launching projects designed to digitize their collections in response to the global information exchange and for wide outreach. Digital libraries are increasingly being recognized as efficient channels for the collection, storage organization of information in digital formats and for their ease of searching, retrieval and processing of information via improved communication networks. Digitization is a process in which materials are converted from the hard copies to electronic copies. This paper discusses the reasons for digitization and explains the processes and methodology of digitization. Issues and challenges involved in the process of digitization are also highlighted. The paper recommends, among others, that academic libraries should draw policies on digital libraries and digitized resources. It reiterates that the introduction of new policies must come with the challenge of not being ratified early enough for the specific activity of digitization to take off, but strong leadership is required to ensure the ratification of policies as quickly as possible in order that digitization projects are not stalled in our academic libraries.