Mass Digitization and Partnership Agreements

We are working to help partner institutions contribute in meaningful ways to the collective whole that mass digitization is developing, whether or not they are already involved in Google, OCA, Microsoft or other initiatives. In order to assess community expectations for mass digitization and to ensure that we enter into agreements that allow us to meet researcher needs, a number of activities are being undertaken:

• In October 2006, in order to identify key issues relating to current mass digitization partnerships, we surveyed Digital Library Federation members to surface community concerns about how mass digitization is transforming the library service environment and to identify interest in specific collaborative solutions. A panel at the DLF Fall Forum probed the issues further.
• A meeting of stakeholders was convened on June 11, 2007 to surface recommendations regarding public-private mass digitization partnership agreements, to help ensure that future agreements will better serve the interests of all parties directly concerned as well as the research community.
• An online collection of materials, including various digitization agreements, commentary on them, and existing analytical work, have been assembled.

Resources

• Project Report:
  Kaufman, Peter and Jeff Ubois. 2007. "Good Terms—Improving Commercial-Noncommercial Partnerships for Mass Digitization; A Report Prepared by Intelligent Television for RLG Programs, OCLC Programs and Research." D-Lib Magazine, 13,11/12 (November/December). Available online at http://dlib.org/dlib/november07/kaufman/11kaufman.html.
• Public/Private Mass Digitization Resources