Digitization in Ontario Public Libraries: A Fresh Look

January 24, 2019

OurDigitalWorld today released a report on the current state of digitization in Ontario public libraries – projects, best practices, capacity, and areas for improvement.

In summer 2018, public libraries were surveyed about their work in the area of digitization, including:

• whether they have archival or special collections,
• what items they hold, how they are digitizing those collections,
• and what feedback they get.

Some highlights:

• Three-quarters of Ontario public libraries have special collections
• Almost 60% are currently collecting unique materials – 80% through unsolicited donations
• 89% of collecting libraries take in locally relevant materials of collecting libraries were digitizing when we asked; 26% have never digitized
• 39% of respondents have digitized under 1,000 items; another third have digitized under 10,000 items
• 80% of budgets allocate under $5,000/year for digitization
• 85% said their library allocates less than 0.5 FTE for digitization work
• Most library special collections do not represent women, Indigenous people, people of colour, immigrants, Franco-Ontarians, LGBTQ communities, or other marginalized groups we asked about
• Libraries are interested in training on almost everything: digital preservation, imaging, copyright, multimedia conversion, metadata, grant-writing and fundraising, digital storage and access, and “where to start”

The full report can be downloaded from the Our Digital World website.

(Via Our Digital World)