As academic libraries focus on delivering new services in such areas as research data, digital preservation, and data curation, they have begun to explore alternative funding models and approaches to research. The Arizona State University (ASU) Library in Tempe works with the university's Office of Knowledge Enterprise Development to collaborate…

"Research Library Issues" ("RLI") focuses on current and emerging topics that are strategically important to research libraries. The articles explore issues, share information, pose critical questions, and provide examples. This issue includes the following articles: (1) Special Issue on Copyright (Prudence S. Adler); (2) Fair…

Stanford University's (California) Julie Sweetkind-Singer is a recognized authority on digital preservation, and has been honored by the Library of Congress for her work in the field. She currently serves as both the assistant director of Stanford's Geospatial, Cartographic and Scientific Data and Services and as head of the Branner Earth Sciences…

Over the last four decades, electronic games have profoundly changed the way people play, learn, and connect with each other. Despite the tremendous impact of electronic games, however, until recently, relatively few programs existed to preserve them for future generations of players and researchers. Recognizing the need to save the original…

Discusses issues related to the preservation of electronic records. Highlights include differences between physical and electronic records; volume of electronic records; physical media; authenticity; migration of electronic records; metadata; legal issues; improved storage media; and projects for preservation of electronic records. (LRW)

In this article, the authors describe how a time capsule project helped students at Ridgedale Elementary School in Knoxville, Tennessee understand the nature of events and the relationships of events in a segment of history. The time capsule preparation motivated students to hypothesize about important events and significant artifacts of their…

Discusses information storage techniques and problems that libraries face with deteriorating paper materials as well as previous storage techniques, such as microfilm. Considers the loss of information when original paper sources are destroyed and newer techniques become obsolete and suggests approaches to minimize the loss of critical…

Report on characteristics of different kinds of microfilm available indicates proper film for specific needs. Silver halide and nonsilver films, diazo film, vesicular film, reaction of films to light, effect of heat and humidity on films, film susceptibility to scratching, and potential longevity of film types are covered. (35 references) (EJS)

Examines the role of microfilm in storing information to eliminate digital obsolescence. Discusses the benefits of digital-to-analog microfilm systems; changes in conventional microfilm technology; and the advantages of true hybrid imaging systems that allow retrieval of images from document microfilm, digitally created microfilm or paper scanners…

Discusses a shift in focus of archives from storage to access, which changes the views of archival thinking. Topics include the paradigm shift to access, including a new user orientation; access and preservation; appraisal; intrinsic value; archival theory; and relevance for electronic records. (LRW)

Discusses the loss of stored knowledge due to the continuous obsolescence of digital formats and platforms. Topics include digital storage versus digital preservation; the use of metadata and efforts to create standards for it; information on the Internet; and the need for long-term planning to solve digital degradation. (LRW)

Discusses two reasons why institutions should create digital image files--access and preservation. Suggests a collection survey for determining what to scan. Describes the five most important technical issues of digital imaging: resolution, file formats, storage, refreshment, and copyright. Discusses digitization of manuscript collections and…

Discussion of digitizing an archive's photograph collection focuses on the FEAR method (Funding, Equipment/Expertise, Approach, and Rationale). Topics include whether digitization is an appropriate choice; formulating objectives; file format and compression; storage alternatives, including CD-ROM; and outsourcing. (LRW)

Discusses the need to develop storage and preservation measures for Internet resources. Topics include Web site authorship versus Web space ownership; physical archives of Web sites; cyberarchives; collection development; acquiring Web sites; and adding Web sites to the collection. (LRW)

This report begins by defining sound recordings as machine readable artifacts, i.e., documents for which the integrity of the information they contain is directly related to the artifacts' physical condition. It then explains the equipment and media used in the recording, retention, and playback of sound, including the microphone, the speaker,…