Bridging the Gap Connecting Users to Digital Contents

The amount of digital information that libraries need to manage effectively for the benefit of users is constantly increasing. This book discusses in detail how library administrators can better handle this growing abundance of information, as well as effective ways to allow library users easy access. Respected leaders in the field of librarianship explore various aspects of how librarians are meeting the challenges of delivering more digital information to a changing user base, including preservation demands, licensing agreements, digitizing and making available collections unique to specific libraries, and providing more personalized digital services to library users.This book focuses on timely issues that impact how libraries are administered and viewed by both librarians and by users. This innovative book discusses practical ways to provide remote access and services to digital resources, support the preservation of digital resources, understand their library users who prefer the digital information format, and reshape the traditional library for better digital access. The book is carefully referenced and includes helpful illustrations. The book is a valuable resource for senior and mid-level library administrators, including deans, directors, and department heads, of public, special and academic libraries. This book was published as a special issue of the Journal of Library Administration.

1. Introduction Sul H. Lee 2. Bridging the Gap: Wherever you are, the Library Carla J. Stoffle, Kim Leeder, and Gabrielle Sykes-Casavant 3. Responding to the Preservation Challenge: Portico, an Electronic Archiving Service Eileen G. Fenton 4. Assessing the Value and Impact of Digital Content Brinley Franklin and Terry Plum 5. All Hype or Real Change: Has the Digital Revolution Changed Scholarly Communication? Barbara McFadden Allen 6. A World Infinite and Accessible: Digital Ubiquity, the Adaptable Library, and the End of Information Dennis Dillon 7. Social, Intellectual, and Cultural Spaces: Creating Compelling Library Environments for the Digital Age Barbara I. Dewey 8. A Question of Access—Evolving Policies and Practices Heather Joseph 9. Funes and the Search Engine Frank Menchaca

Sul H. Lee is Peggy V. Helmerich Chair and professor of Library and Information Studies at the University of Oklahoma and Dean of University of Oklahoma Libraries. He is the editor of the Journal of Library Administration and serves regularly as consultant to library service providers, academic book vendors, publishers, and advises state and local governments on library affairs.