Skill Three: Knowledge of Technologies
Librarians and archivists who develop digital collections must be technology savvy. This sounds much more intimidating than it really is. To be skilled in technology does not mean one has to have mastered every program and piece of equipment ever created. This would be nearly impossible because technology is constantly changing and evolving. Rather, being skilled in technology means one has mastered some programs and equipment, has an overall understanding of how things work, and is capable of learning new skills. Fortunately that describes most of today’s librarians and archivists. Staying informed about the latest developments in hardware and software is equally as important as nurturing an enthusiasm for learning new tools and the possibilities they bring.
There is a broad knowledge base required for librarians and archivists working on digital collections because, in addition to traditional library skills, they handle everything from the creation of the digital object to its catalog record in a database. They set standards for scanning images and saving files and they adjust scanned images using photo editing software. They catalog the images in a database and add metadata. They teach all of these skills to any support staff assisting in the projects. Finally, they design digital library environments complete with user interfaces.
One of the most important reasons to be tech savvy comes down to money. The financial investment to purchase hardware and software for a library can be significant. Librarians and archivists want to make the best, most informed decisions possible when spending their institution’s money. Before purchasing anything, you may want to read some reviews to see what the experts think of that new digital camera or software package, or anything else. CNET is a great source of information about all technology-related things. The reviews are thorough, yet understandable. Many other websites offer reviews by experts, but remember to consider the source. Impartial reviews are best. Some sites offer reviews written by people who have purchased and used the software or equipment. Often, these are the best reviews because they are not written by experts. Remember, your colleagues are an excellent source of information, too. Ask them what they are using and whether they are happy with the results.
The caveat is selecting digital formats and delivery methods—or any other tech item – is not a “once and done” decision. Just when you have everything in place and working smoothly, a new version of your software could be released or your scanner will die or some other unexpected curve ball will come along. This is exactly what happened during my digital collection project for a university. When I began developing the collection, I was working with Luna Insight version 5.6. Half way through the project, the systems librarian upgraded to version 6 without my knowledge. The software had changed enough to necessitate some re-learning which slowed down my progress. The moral: Always attempt to find out if there is a pending upgrade!
Librarians and archivists must constantly keep an ear to the ground to stay current. The marketplace regularly offers new and better equipment. This is wonderful because often prices come down, features increase, and ease of use improves. But unfortunately, as technology develops, file types are subject to change. These changes can be frustrating or, at a minimum, challenging because one must constantly plan for future migration of files into unknown formats. Make your selections based on what works for today and the foreseeable future while keeping a prophetic eye toward what may come next.
Next up: Skill Four: Metadata Standards
