Library Products/Customer ServicesSusan Fisher & Herschel Pollard

Topic Definition

• Customers• Tangible & Intangible

Goods• Services

Topic Context

• Small library• Digitization of regionally

significant items• Library products/services

affect choice of items to be digitized

Topic Description—Products

• Collection subgroups– Print– Audiovisual

• Technology subgroups– Internet access– Online databases– Digital collections

Topic Description—Services • Reference• Programming• Interlibrary loan• Referral• Special services for the

disabled• instruction

Topic Scope

• Small library with limited collection

• Digitization project plans• Items to be digitized

– Focus on easily digitized items

– Growth over time

• A small project with global potential

Project Goals—Primary

• Creation of a digital collection– Regional & cultural

significance– Relevance to patrons

Project Goals—Sub-goals

• Why break up the primary goal

• Project Order• Assessing feasibility• Averting pitfalls

Project Goals—Sub-goals

• Sub-goal objectives– Budget– Personnel– Collection– Legal– Creation technology– Access technology– Instruction

Project Justification

• Resolution of technical concerns

• Feasibility• Short- and long-terms effect

on the collection• Mitigating potentially negative

impact on products or services• Collection and service

enhancement

Aspects to Consider

• Small library setting– Budget & personnel issues– Technology

• Cultural aspects– Collection development decisions– Users

• Digitization– Technical issues– Staff size & ability

Web Resources

• Available grants for digitization projects– www.imls.gov/applicants/project.shtm

• Links to public library digitization projects– www.cmpl.org/digpublib/resources.ht

m#Public%20Library

• How to get started on a small budget– www.scls.lib.wi.us/programs/digitize.h

tml