Citation
Cassell, K.A. (2007), "Editorial", Collection Building, Vol. 26 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/cb.2007.17126aaa.002
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Editorial
Moving into digital collections does not in any way diminish the work of the librarian. Librarians are still responsible for selecting, acquiring, cataloging, housing and preserving books and other materials. Selection policies and selection criteria continue to provide a structure for selection and acquisition of new materials whether they are in paper, digitized or in a multi-media format. The responsibility for shaping the library’s collection is still an important responsibility. Once materials are acquired they must be cataloged, classified and described to provide users with in-depth access to the content. Digitized materials benefit from careful description since this is the only way to provide the users with access to the rich content in them. Many points of access are needed to make these materials available to the fullest extent.
Appropriate finding aids using new technology tools can be developed to assist users in their quest for information. For example, a library might be collecting materials on the role of media in people’s lives. This collection may include several formats of materials including print, multi-media, and digital documents and may be multidisciplinary in its content. A well-designed finding aid can assist the user and enrich their experience with the collection. Assistance in the use of the materials can also come through well-designed user education, which can highlight the rich resources in the library as a whole or in a particular collection.
Although it is easy to neglect the role of the librarian in handling these new formats, I encourage librarians to think creatively about how to more dynamically integrate all formats acquired by the library into one collection. Librarians have a rich tradition in selecting and organizing print materials, and we cannot afford to do less for digitized materials. We must be sure these materials do not get lost and that they are brought to the attention of our users.
Kay Ann Cassell