IMLS Technology and Digitization Survey

I have been exploring a variety of surveys to use in a phase of my sabbatical project that assesses where California community colleges are along the spectrum of readiness and enagagement in the digital arena.

The most significant studies I found were from The Institute of Museum and Library Services. The Institute "is committed to helping libraries and museums take full advantage of the power of technology. Through grantmaking, research, conferences, and publications the Institute helps to create and share best practices and provide important data for administrators, policy makers, and the public."

In 2001, the Institute conducted the first survey of the nations museums and libraries on technology use and digitization. "The use of technology and particularly digital technology has affected nearly every aspect of library and museum services, from the automation of internal cataloging and management systems to the digitization of physical collections, and from the acquisition of new “born-digital” works of art and library publications to the use of technology to present collections and engage audiences."

While the 2001 study surveyed general use, the second study (2004) looked more specifically at how institutions use technology and digitization in their collections.

Part of the survey group was academic libraries, of which community colleges were included. Of the target study, 31.(% (22) junior/community colleges participated: 7 small, 10 medium, and 4 large.

The overall findings include the following summary items:
Small museums and public libraries have made dramatic progress, although they still lag behind their larger counterparts.

Libraries and museums are putting services and activities online to manage their institutions and provide enhanced public service.

Insufficient funding and staff time are barriers to implementing technology.

Assessment of user and visitor needs is strongest among academic libraries and state library administrative agencies and weak among other groups.

Digitization activities have increased for all groups, with state library administrative agencies and archives leading the way..

While more institutions have digitization policies in place than was the case in 2001, many institutions that are digitizing do not have digitization policies.

With a substantial number of materials left to digitize, institutions are held back by lack of funding, lack of staff time, and other pressing priorities.

While collaborative digitization efforts are underway, they are not yet widespread.

Only a small portion of museums and libraries assess user and visitor needs for digitized collections and services.

For more information on each of these items, go to http://www.imls.gov/resources/TechDig05/findings.htm