Digitisation of special collection resources : identifying the perceived value of secondary users

Abstract

The Internet has provided digital libraries with unexpected audiences to their digital resources. This research has attempted to examine the relationship between new users, or secondary users, and digital libraries. Developing an awareness, and addressing the needs of secondary users can provide digital libraries with opportunities for additional funding and further digital development initiatives. The theoretical basis for this research was drawn from the Kilker and Gay's adapted Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) Model. This places all stakeholders in more or less mediated contact with the construction and maintenance of the digital library. The research attempted to find where secondary users were placed on this model, if at all, based on the perceptions of digital library managers. The Pareto Principle, or the 80/20 Rule, was also used to examine the proportion of secondary users and their use of digital libraries. Participants were identified and interviewed from digital libraries associated with various types of institutions: public, research and academic library, and archival institution, all located in New Zealand. The research found that to a large extent secondary users are not considered in the policies and day-to-day practices of digital libraries. The research also found that user evaluation of digital libraries is problematic with few digital libraries participating in user evaluation beyond responding to informal feedback.