I am currently writing an MA dissertation about the implementation of digitisation projects in British university libraries. I would be very grateful if anyone who has been involved with digitisation projects, particularly with their co-ordination, would be able to fill in the accompanying questionnaire. This is done by adding a number (between 1-6)to the end of each statement to indicate agreement or disagreement. Please bear in mind that I would greatly value disagreement with any of the statements I have written, and that the views expressed by these statements do not invariably reflect my own. Please forward all responses to me alone, if possible.



Your digitisation project

Key:	1= Yes/ Always
	2= Yes, with reservations/ In most cases
	3= Undecided/ Sometimes
	4= Not persuaded/ Rarely
	5= Completely against/ Never 
	6= N/A


1.	The main priority of the digitisation project was to extend user access to documents in restricted circulation						
2.	This digitisation project was designed to create a surrogate document, to ensure preservation of the original in secure storage conditions						
3.	Copyright clearance and financial planning of digitisation projects is a more complex and expensive process than digitising documents and processing images						
4.	The digitisation project required an iterative, improvisatory approach because of copyright and funding issues.						
5.	The digitisation process required frequent technical revisions, so that the image quality was reduced from the original target						
6.	The digitisation process which we undertook represents value for money						
7.	It was essential to obtain funds from outside bodies before commencing digitisation of materials						
8.	It was an essential part of the digitisation project to use commercial services outside the university in order to achieve the best technical results						

9.	It was an essential part of this digitisation project to use commercial services outside the university in order to ensure value for money 						
10.	The provisional time frame for the digitisation process was breached repeatedly, or excessively						


 
General overview

For all respondents

11.	Digitised images disseminated via the Internet are the only realistic means to improve user access to documents in special collections						
12.	All documents in special collections must eventually be digitised, in order to ensure preservation in secure storage conditions						
13.	Academic libraries are the most appropriate organisation within the university to conduct copyright clearance and financial planning of digitisation projects						
14.	A successful institutional digitisation programme across the university, of any collection, always requires library input and advice						
15.	A successful institutional digitisation programme across the university, of any collection requires cataloguing and classification by library staff	
					
16.	The success of a digitisation project is best expressed in terms of financial savings for the library and to the users of the documents						
17.	Library service users are now less likely to accept documents which are not in high resolution colour as substitutes for physical access to the source documents						
18.	Only commercial organisations offer sufficient technical equipment to guarantee highly accurate images						
19.	For the sake of academic integrity, it is preferable that a digitisation project should be conducted wholly within the university, rather than involve commercial organisations						
20.	Any digitisation process must be strictly limited to the original budget and time frame allocated to it, without exception.					
The future potential of digitisation projects

21.	Libraries will become increasingly reliant on external funding before starting most projects, and will not be able to enter into partial funding or matching funding arrangements						
22.	Access to digitised materials will become an essential part of the customer service role of the academic library						
23.	Print materials outside special collections will (continue to) be digitised in order to improve user access to popular materials						
24.	The digitisation project which we conducted is part of a larger project involving both academic and public or special libraries						
25.	The digitisation project which we conducted is part of a project on a national scale						
26.	We will consider commencing further digitisation projects within this library, if we have the necessary funding						
27.	The image specifications for further digitisation projects must be constantly improved in order to attract interest and maintain academic quality 						
28.	The creation of igitised collections will become an essential part of the collection policies of all academic libraries				
		
29.	Academic library consortia will be increasingly valuable in the planning and funding of digitisation projects						
30.	We have definite plans to commence another digitisation project in the near future						

Thank you for your response. Please indicate here whether you would be willing to contribute further information via email on any digitisation project.
(Yes/No)



Please indicate here whether you would be prepared to allow the project which you and your colleagues have undertaken to become the subject of a case study, for academic study only. (Please note: participation would involve more detailed questions regarding the financial and academic background to the digitisation project)

Yes/No

Thankyou very much for your co-operation.