The State Library welcomed a new piece of equipment in December 2011, the Indus Book Scanner 9000. As the State Library begins more work on digitization projects, including preserving books that are over 100 years old, there was a need to purchase a scanner and computer that would be more effective in protecting items to be scanned as well as provide a nice, clean scan with minimal handling of older, fragile items.
A number of SDSL staff members are trained in the use of the scanner system, and a project currently underway is the digitization of the South Dakota Legislative Manual books, which are also commonly referred to as the “blue books.” This series dates back to 1903 and each book has anywhere from 200 to 800 pages. The new scanner will scan a 300 page book in one day. It can scan a 28 inch wide sheet (map size) in 2.7 seconds. After scanning the material, the most time consuming part, OCR, Optical Character Recognition, used to convert books and documents into electronic files, occurs. During this process, staff members review the files and make any needed spelling or spacing corrections. In addition, accessibility testing occurs to make sure that screen readers used by the visually impaired work correctly.
In the future, State Library staff plans to utilize the scanner to digitize more state government publications and historical collections. The equipment may also be used for ILL and research purposes. To view the digitized collections, visit e.library.sd.gov.
If you would like to learn more about the digitization process, please contact Stacia McGourty at email
Licensing Digital Content and other resources in the news
Reviewed by Jane Healy
Harris, Leslie Ellen. Licensing Digital Content: A Practical Guide for Librarians.
Chicago: ALA, 2009, 2d ed. 161 pp.
What’s the difference between licensing and copyright? How and when can I negotiate licensing terms? What does the law say about licensing? Copyright, licensing, and digital property lawyer Harris answers these questions and provides solid information on all aspects of library product licensing. Harris acknowledges the rapid change and development of licensing law and practice. She advises readers on what to watch for and how to stay current.
Two pages from the introductory material give “Quick-Starter Tips for a Successful Agreement:” avoid oral licenses, make a “must-have” list, understand your obligations, cover all issues, avoid legal language, use consistent terms, know that each license agreement is unique, be creative, patient, and flexible, know when to walk away. The eight chapters expand on these precepts.
Chapter One, “When to License,” explains that licensing allows for legal access to materials not owned. Harris covers fair licensing principles, pros and cons of standard agreements and how to use model licenses. In Chapter Two, “Demystifying the Licensing Experience,” Harris outlines key issues to consider in licensing, including a needs assessment and licensing policy. To put librarians at ease with license “legalese,” Harris includes Chapter Three, “Learning the Lingo,” and a glossary. Chapters Four and Five discuss key clauses and standard clauses, helping librarians determine which clauses are necessary in any given agreement. Chapter Six, “Un-intimidating Negotiations,” leads librarians through the negotiations process from preparation to afterward, with a summary of key points. Chapter Seven, “Q & A on Licensing,” answers common questions and acts as a “quick guide” to licensing information. This chapter mentions fair use and copyright as they relate to licensing. Chapter Eight, “Go License!” empowers librarians to use what they’ve learned, negotiate the terms they want and educate their public.
The appendices, a selected list of free online resources and an index add more value to this already valuable book, which is available for loan from the State Library.
Other resources in the news:
- E-reading: the good, the bad and the ugly
libraries.wright.edu. - One school district’s plan for implementing BYOD
doug-johnson-squarespace.com - ALSC redesigns Great Websites for Kids
www.americanlibrariesmagazine.org - Share What You’re Reading – Kids read and write book reviews
teacher.scholastic.com
E-Rate contact change
For any library applying for E-Rate assistance your new contact at the South Dakota Department of Education is Lisa Rae. For questions about E-Rate contact Lisa at 773-3248 or email.