Managing Digitization Activities · 13
In addition, respondents indicated that high-level
library administrators and the heads of special col-
lections and other units also help make these deci-
sions (23 and 12 responses, respectively).
In order to address staffing needs for digitiza-
tion activities, all of the responding libraries rede-
fined some existing positions to add responsibility for
digitization activities, primarily for selection (80%),
but also for metadata creation (66%) and digitiza-
tion (63%). More than half redefined existing po-
sitions to be dedicated to digitization and metadata
creation. Seventy-seven percent also created new
positions to be dedicated to digitization activities,
most often for digitization (93%) and metadata cre-
ation (67%). Staff who select material for digitiza-
tion and create metadata for the new items most
often had their positions redefined to add this re-
sponsibility to their other duties. Digitization staff
positions also were most often redefined, though a
significant number were newly created (72%).
Survey respondents were asked to estimate the
number and full-time equivalence (FTE) of librar-
ians, other professionals, support staff, student as-
sistants, and other staff who participate in digital
activities. Forty-eight respondents reported a total
of 277 staff who are involved in selecting material
for digitization. Librarians make up the largest
portion of that group (188 or 68%). The number of
librarians per institution ranges from one to 14, but
at the majority the number is three or fewer. Only
28 of the 188 librarians work full-time on digitiza-
tion the remainder spend only a small portion of
their time on this activity. Support staff is the sec-
ond largest category. Thirteen respondents report-
ed a total of 36 support staff, ten of whom work
full-time selecting material for digitization. The
number ranges from one to six per institution, but
the majority have three or fewer. Of the 22 other
professionals involved in selection at 11 reporting
institutions, three are full-time. One respondent has
four staff in this category, but half of the remainder
have only one. Only five respondents report using
student assistants for selection and, not surpris-
ingly, all of the 16 work part-time. One respondent
reported that faculty also make selection decisions,
but that activity is a very small percentage of their
time.
Of the 501 staff who reportedly digitize mate-
rial, the largest categories are student assistants
(256 or 51%) and support staff (110 or 22%). There
are almost an equal number of librarians (67) and
other professionals (60) who participate, too. Five
libraries involve a few others, including interns,
volunteers, and a programmer. Support staff are
most likely to be employed full-time with digitiz-
ing material (43 or 39%). Only 16 librarians (24%)
and 17 other professionals (28%) do this task full-
time. Three libraries report a small number of full-
time student assistants.
Survey respondents reported 327 staff who cre-
ate metadata. These are most often librarians (124
or 38%) but there are also a large number of stu-
dents who assist (103 or 32%). While the number
of metadata librarians ranges from one to 13 per
institution, at most libraries the number is one or
two. The number of student assistants ranges from
one to 16, but only a few have more than five. Only
23 librarians have this as a full-time responsibility
none of the students do. Twenty-seven respondents
report a total of 70 support staff who also create
metadata, 14 of them full-time. At 17 libraries other
professionals create metadata, although only four
of these 28 are full-time. Two libraries report using
interns for this work, too.
Budget
Slightly more than half of the respondents reported
that they have no dedicated budget for digitization
activities. Only 19 (30%) reported that there was a
dedicated budget for both start-up and ongoing
costs for digitization activities. Six (9.5%) reported
a dedicated budget for start-up costs but not for
ongoing costs. The 19 reported start-up budgets
range fairly widely, from a minimum of $5,000 to a
maximum of over $366,000 with a mean of $97,027.
The ongoing budgets vary even more widely,
from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of over
$1,000,000 with a mean of $303,916.
In addition, respondents indicated that high-level
library administrators and the heads of special col-
lections and other units also help make these deci-
sions (23 and 12 responses, respectively).
In order to address staffing needs for digitiza-
tion activities, all of the responding libraries rede-
fined some existing positions to add responsibility for
digitization activities, primarily for selection (80%),
but also for metadata creation (66%) and digitiza-
tion (63%). More than half redefined existing po-
sitions to be dedicated to digitization and metadata
creation. Seventy-seven percent also created new
positions to be dedicated to digitization activities,
most often for digitization (93%) and metadata cre-
ation (67%). Staff who select material for digitiza-
tion and create metadata for the new items most
often had their positions redefined to add this re-
sponsibility to their other duties. Digitization staff
positions also were most often redefined, though a
significant number were newly created (72%).
Survey respondents were asked to estimate the
number and full-time equivalence (FTE) of librar-
ians, other professionals, support staff, student as-
sistants, and other staff who participate in digital
activities. Forty-eight respondents reported a total
of 277 staff who are involved in selecting material
for digitization. Librarians make up the largest
portion of that group (188 or 68%). The number of
librarians per institution ranges from one to 14, but
at the majority the number is three or fewer. Only
28 of the 188 librarians work full-time on digitiza-
tion the remainder spend only a small portion of
their time on this activity. Support staff is the sec-
ond largest category. Thirteen respondents report-
ed a total of 36 support staff, ten of whom work
full-time selecting material for digitization. The
number ranges from one to six per institution, but
the majority have three or fewer. Of the 22 other
professionals involved in selection at 11 reporting
institutions, three are full-time. One respondent has
four staff in this category, but half of the remainder
have only one. Only five respondents report using
student assistants for selection and, not surpris-
ingly, all of the 16 work part-time. One respondent
reported that faculty also make selection decisions,
but that activity is a very small percentage of their
time.
Of the 501 staff who reportedly digitize mate-
rial, the largest categories are student assistants
(256 or 51%) and support staff (110 or 22%). There
are almost an equal number of librarians (67) and
other professionals (60) who participate, too. Five
libraries involve a few others, including interns,
volunteers, and a programmer. Support staff are
most likely to be employed full-time with digitiz-
ing material (43 or 39%). Only 16 librarians (24%)
and 17 other professionals (28%) do this task full-
time. Three libraries report a small number of full-
time student assistants.
Survey respondents reported 327 staff who cre-
ate metadata. These are most often librarians (124
or 38%) but there are also a large number of stu-
dents who assist (103 or 32%). While the number
of metadata librarians ranges from one to 13 per
institution, at most libraries the number is one or
two. The number of student assistants ranges from
one to 16, but only a few have more than five. Only
23 librarians have this as a full-time responsibility
none of the students do. Twenty-seven respondents
report a total of 70 support staff who also create
metadata, 14 of them full-time. At 17 libraries other
professionals create metadata, although only four
of these 28 are full-time. Two libraries report using
interns for this work, too.
Budget
Slightly more than half of the respondents reported
that they have no dedicated budget for digitization
activities. Only 19 (30%) reported that there was a
dedicated budget for both start-up and ongoing
costs for digitization activities. Six (9.5%) reported
a dedicated budget for start-up costs but not for
ongoing costs. The 19 reported start-up budgets
range fairly widely, from a minimum of $5,000 to a
maximum of over $366,000 with a mean of $97,027.
The ongoing budgets vary even more widely,
from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of over
$1,000,000 with a mean of $303,916.
