Integrated library systems that provide quick, convenient access to myriad resources are the way of the future. Indeed, the transition is already taking place. Digitization of library resources is the goal institutions are aiming for to maintain their status as centres of knowledge and information in the digital age.

The digitization of library systems and services is no small feat. It requires format transitions for a variety of items, from books to manuscripts, historical information to microfilm, newspaper collections and beyond. It also means the development and implementation of online databases for improved information sharing and distribution. Such a transition can come with quite the price tag. 

However, developing a fully digitized, integrated library system doesn’t have to break the budget. Here are some steps you can take to digitize your library on a budget.

A simple truth about digital technology is that it is transforming the ways that library systems and services operate. Not only is technology itself advancing, but the expectations of users are also changing; today, people expect to be able to access all manner of information digitally.

Analog documents – books, newspapers, microfilm, microfiche, town records, historic information – are still important, but there is a recognized need to have them digitized in order to improve access and availability. And documents are not the only things being affected by the digital age. Increasingly, libraries and other informational institutions are rethinking the ways they provide services to their clientele. Below are some of the bigger transformations library systems and services are experiencing in the age of digital media.

With the internet surpassing other media as the primary source of information, digitization has become an increasingly salient topic. The ability to access information digitally is no longer a novelty ­– it is expected. Take for example the Google Books Library Project, in which Google is working with several major libraries and educational institutions (including Stanford University) to digitize library resources and create a vast digital library.

The trend isn’t ephemeral. The push towards the digitization of library resources and other sources of information will only accelerate. As Guy Berthiaume (who will become the new head of Library and Archives Canada on June 23) points out, libraries are in the process of reinventing themselves. He believes that digital technology is not threatening the place of libraries as centres of knowledge; rather, it should be embraced and leveraged to improve the availability of information and how people access it.

At the heart of it, a library is a business just like any other. You still have to deal with purchasing, receiving, hiring and training. All of these activities generate paper... lots of paper. That's where FileBound Express can help. FileBound is a turn-key document management solution that will allow you to scan, search, store and manage your paperwork for improved efficiency. With the optional workflow module you can even automate the routing and approval of processes within the library.

Libraries are full of historic collections. Hard copy newspapers, one-of-a-kind artwork, maps, etc. Our microfilm scanning services can help you convert virtually any material to useful digital images. With over four decades of conversion experience we have the tools and resources to handle even the most fragile materials.