Digitised library resources

Libraries are expensive and the costs can be attributed to three main areas (Arms 2000): facilities (including buildings), library staff and library materials. Library materials that were previously available only in hard copy at considerable expense are increasingly offered in digital form, sometimes free. Digital resources require computers and networks, but are relatively inexpensive once purchased or assembled, with many cost-reducing advantages such as elimination of the need to purchase duplicate copies. They cannot easily get damaged or lost: digital resources such as texts, articles and slide presentations may be tracked for usage statistics and are not as labour-intensive to maintain as their hard copy counterparts. For instance there is no need for re-shelving or repairs and these materials can be accessed at any time by multiple users. Several economic models can be used to describe the provision of digitised resources.

They may be provided free and costs of provision
recouped through advertising throughout the access process or through banners alongside the text. Costs may be covered by external support from an institution like a university or foundation that supports the access. In a subscription model, the user pays a periodic fee and some of the costs are returned to the creator. In fee-per-use, the user pays only for the period or amount of use required. For libraries, online digital resources represent a cost saving. With online access to digital text, the overheads for libraries are reduced and a distillation of value occurs through fully utilising network access to the library. Lynch (2003) suggests that the digital revolution allows ‘…exploring more transformative new uses of the digital medium’. A manifestation of this is the creation of e-reserves in university libraries: Monash University in Victoria ‘has students on six Australian and two overseas campuses, and distance education students who access digitised material in over 120 countries…Some indication of the success of the digitisation of readings and reserve material is the fact that there are approximately 30 000 accesses per week to the library’s image server’ (Harboe-Ree, Sabto and Treloar 2003).
https://www.alia.org.au/about-alia/awards-and-grants/325/library-technician-research-award/previous-recipients-library-technician-research-award
 how to digitise library collections https://www.nla.gov.au/digitisation