Libraries

Cultural heritage institutions are increasingly providing online access to primary source materials for researchers. While the intent is to enable round-the-clock access from any location, few studies have examined the extent to which current web delivery is meeting the needs of users. Careful use of limited resources requires intelligent assessment of researcher needs in comparison to the actual online presentation, including access, retrieval and usage options. In the hopes of impacting future delivery methods and access development, this article describes the results of a qualitative study of 11 humanities faculty researchers at the University of Alabama, who describe and rate the importance of various issues encountered when using 29 participant-selected online databases. 9/14/2014 What Do Researchers Need? Feedback On Use of Online Primary Source Materials http://dlib.org/dlib/july14/deridder/07deridder.html 2/22

Most digitization depends on costly item-level description for search and access. However, capturing such descriptions for content in extensive collections is often not feasible. To overcome this barrier to online access for large manuscript collections, the authors developed a method for linking digitized items into the EAD finding aid, which speeds content to the Web at a fraction of the usual cost. In the NHPRC-funded grant Digitizing the Septimus D. Cabaniss Papers, the authors demonstrated this model and developed the work flows and open-source software for implementation. This article assesses cost effectiveness and reports on a usability test with primarily novice users.

Every day history is being made and recorded in digital form. Every day, more and more digitally-captured history disappears completely or becomes inaccessible due to obsolescence of hardware, software, and formats. Although it has long been the focus of libraries and archives to retain, organize, and preserve information, these communities face a critical skills gap. Until we have in place the infrastructure, expertise and resources to distill critical information from the digital deluge and preserve it appropriately, what steps can those in the field take to help mitigate the loss of our cultural heritage? This article argues for the need for practical, accessible free or low-cost digital preservation training webinars, and reports on the results of a survey to identify the most important topics and types of materials on which to focus. 

Linked Data is a term used to describe a set of best practices for publishing, sharing, and connecting structured data on the Web. It is "about using the Web to connect related data that wasn't previously linked, or using the Web to lower the barriers to linking data currently linked using other methods."[1] The panel will introduce and discuss standards and alternative approaches enabling, representing and disseminating data as linked data, including:

Most digitization depends on costly item-level description for search and access. However, capturing such descriptions for content in extensive collections is often not feasible. To overcome this barrier to online access for large manuscript collections, the authors developed a method for linking digitized items into the EAD finding aid, which speeds content to the Web at a fraction of the usual cost. In the NHPRC-funded grant Digitizing the Septimus D. Cabaniss Papers, the authors demonstrated this model and developed the work flows and open-source software for implementation. This article assesses cost effectiveness and reports on a usability test with primarily novice users.