An evaluation of how digitised periodicals serve academic research in a New Zealand Context

Abstract

Research problem This research investigates how researchers from humanities backgrounds research print periodicals that have been digitised. It investigates how New Zealand digitised periodical resources facilitate that research. How do these resources represent the periodical as an object, not just textual content?

Methodology This research project is mixed methods in design combining two qualitative approaches of content analysis and a self-reporting survey comprised of mainly open-ended questions. These approaches facilitated exploration of rich data interspersed with some quantitative data to help interpret some of the findings. Both methods were undertaken simultaneously after an initial pilot study of one online source. The content analysis focused on four New Zealand digitised periodicals sources and there were nineteen responses to the survey.

Results The findings indicated humanities researchers are using content and paratexts in their research. They require context from the digitised periodicals they use and they want good quality images and readable text. Researchers call for refinement of search results into component categories and want good browsing functionality. New Zealand digitised resources are inconsistent, fulfilling only some of these requirements and not delivering on others.

Implications A better understanding of paratexts in periodicals and how they are used in research will address some of the assumptions in library practice that lead to incomplete digitisation and/or limited accessibility. The importance of consultation with targeted research communities during the planning of digitisation projects is highlighted.