Slog
News & ArtsSaturday, June 6, 2009
Books We Surely Will Never Need Those Books Ever Again
Posted by Paul Constant on Sat, Jun 6, 2009 at 3:16 PM
This afternoon, in an email to his staff, David Westin, the president of ABC News, announced that ABC News will be converting its existing research library on the second floor of its 47th street building into a smaller, more cyber-focused "Digital Research Facility.""Our extensive, hard copy library filled with periodicals and other materials is no longer necessary in the digital age," wrote Mr. Westin. "The time has come to re-shape that library to reflect today’s world."
In my opinion, that "no longer necessary" line is like running away from zombies to a spooky abandoned gas station and shouting "What else could possibly go wrong?"
Thanks to Slog Tipper Davida, who asks "Isn't this essentially the plot of Desk Set?"
5
It's hard for me to tell from the quotation whether they're getting rid of books or of hard copies of periodicals and newspapers. If the former, I agree that this is pretty scary because most books just aren't readily available online and thus I think it would push them more toward other sources or something. If it's getting rid of journals, newspapers, etc. that are well-archived and searcable online (for example, Lexis Nexis has an awesome database of newspapers), then I think this makes a lot of sense. It actually is much easier to do research with periodicals online because you don't have to search through tons of hard copies to get what you want. I get a few hard-copy professional journals through membership to the American Political Science Association (I'm a polisci grad student), but to be honest I never do more than flip through them to get a sense of what's there. When I'm really doing research, I always use Jstor, Lexis Nexis, or other online databases to get what I need more efficiently, and be able to save it along with my notes in an organized computer database like Zotero or End Note. This is really a much better way to do research than sifting through tons of paper copies to find needed articles, and so if that's what they're doing, I don't see an issue with it (plus, it saves more than a few trees!)
7
sara, the digitization problem really comes down to how secure and readily available that information is. If you're doing research at a public library, they have (especially now) limited funds that need to be divided up among staffing, physical books/periodicals, databases, and plenty more stuff. So if they kill a physical periodical subscription in favor of the (yes absolutely more environment-friendly) database, that's all well and good until they can no longer afford the database. Then, vendors remove access to those databases and the library and its patrons no longer have access to the archives. Physical copies can be saved; digital access can be taken away. And right now, vendors and libraries have not yet figured out a way to get around that very real problem.
8
Why aren't they just moving them into storage? Why get rid of them completely? I understand digitizing for quick reference, searching, accessibility and all, but completely get rid of them? What are they going to do when their digital collection is corrupted or destroyed?
Fools.
Fools.
9
I'm waiting for the first digital archive-specific hacker to come through and destroy an all-digital collection. Nope, hard copies will never be useful again!
10
@ 2,
"Time Enough At Last" or "The Obsolete Man"? Or "Stream Of Consiousness" from 'The Outer Limits'.
"Time Enough At Last" or "The Obsolete Man"? Or "Stream Of Consiousness" from 'The Outer Limits'.
12
What's surprising isn't that this is happening at ABC News, but that it's only happening now. Most news org's libraries and librarians went digital and/or were downsized several years ago.
13
#4: On the off chance someone here missed it:
"Desk Set" Tracey and Hepburn, movie about digitizing a networks research library......in 1957. Well worth a viewing.
Apparently the future is getting here a little slower than expected.
"Desk Set" Tracey and Hepburn, movie about digitizing a networks research library......in 1957. Well worth a viewing.
Apparently the future is getting here a little slower than expected.
14
To add to what @7 said - not only is there a problem with accessing articles and other information that was previously available in an online database or other third-party provided vehicle once either the subscription is terminated or if the publication, host, or provider of that content goes out of business and there are no plans for ensuring that the data will still be accessible.
Furthermore, not all content that appears in a print publication will or can be used in the online version. Questions of rights and permissions for electronic reuse of articles, photos and graphics - not to mention the matter of in the online database can support pictures, charts, graphs, or any other non-text items that are related to the article.
Not everything is available online. Even for the stuff that is, sometimes the aggregators can lose rights and permissions for back issues, or sometimes don't receive all of the needed issues which creates holes in their coverage dates.
When you purchase a subscription for the hard copy of a publication - you own a physical copy that you can store and access whenever you want. When you cancel your subscription you still have those issues (you can also read them regardless of if there is a problem with the server, power grid, or other tech related issue).
Furthermore, not all content that appears in a print publication will or can be used in the online version. Questions of rights and permissions for electronic reuse of articles, photos and graphics - not to mention the matter of in the online database can support pictures, charts, graphs, or any other non-text items that are related to the article.
Not everything is available online. Even for the stuff that is, sometimes the aggregators can lose rights and permissions for back issues, or sometimes don't receive all of the needed issues which creates holes in their coverage dates.
When you purchase a subscription for the hard copy of a publication - you own a physical copy that you can store and access whenever you want. When you cancel your subscription you still have those issues (you can also read them regardless of if there is a problem with the server, power grid, or other tech related issue).
15
@8: There have been studies that show how much each foot of shelve space in a library costs - and in places like NYC where real estate prices are high, the costs of the 'space' that books and magazines are taking up is just too tempting.
Sadly it is not uncommon for corporate libraries to get rid of all or most of their collections and to put some of it in storage. The reality of storage is that it is often in an off-site facility run by companies like Iron Mountain, and in order to retrieve an item you have to know which box it is in - which means that the library/corporation has to spend some resources deciding what to keep and what to get rid or, and then organizing the items to be stored and keeping detailed packing lists for each box. The chances that an item in 'storage' will be request again is very slim, due to the 'out of sight, out of mind' effect.
Also, from the article it would seem that there are no plans for the holdings that ABC currently has to be digitized - rather they will be depending on third-party vendors who have electronic versions of some of their current items in their online collections. So unless they keep those items that are not found elsewhere they will be losing resources.
Sadly it is not uncommon for corporate libraries to get rid of all or most of their collections and to put some of it in storage. The reality of storage is that it is often in an off-site facility run by companies like Iron Mountain, and in order to retrieve an item you have to know which box it is in - which means that the library/corporation has to spend some resources deciding what to keep and what to get rid or, and then organizing the items to be stored and keeping detailed packing lists for each box. The chances that an item in 'storage' will be request again is very slim, due to the 'out of sight, out of mind' effect.
Also, from the article it would seem that there are no plans for the holdings that ABC currently has to be digitized - rather they will be depending on third-party vendors who have electronic versions of some of their current items in their online collections. So unless they keep those items that are not found elsewhere they will be losing resources.
16
@8, @9, & @11: To date paper is still considered to be the most reliable, durable, and accessible medium for data storage in retrieval.
It has the advantage of being human readable - no special equipment needed to access the data (this is a major downfall of electronic resources that need machines (magnetic tape players), hardware and software compatibility in order to access the mode and the manner of an electronic file).
High quality papers like those made from cloth or hemp can hold up for centuries.
It's not a matter of waiting until a hacker can come along and 'destroy or disrupt' all-digital collections - the inherent problems of technology migration already makes accessibility a very real concern for the not so distant future.
We have a lot of information that is 'born digital' and we have a huge challenge in front of us to make sure that that information is not only secure, but is accessible not only now but in the future.
The challenge 'for accessing things now' is being able to locate a given document, which means the use of cataloging, indexing, records management, and the creation of finding aids.
So will ABC have some data holes? Oh yeah, without a doubt.
It has the advantage of being human readable - no special equipment needed to access the data (this is a major downfall of electronic resources that need machines (magnetic tape players), hardware and software compatibility in order to access the mode and the manner of an electronic file).
High quality papers like those made from cloth or hemp can hold up for centuries.
It's not a matter of waiting until a hacker can come along and 'destroy or disrupt' all-digital collections - the inherent problems of technology migration already makes accessibility a very real concern for the not so distant future.
We have a lot of information that is 'born digital' and we have a huge challenge in front of us to make sure that that information is not only secure, but is accessible not only now but in the future.
The challenge 'for accessing things now' is being able to locate a given document, which means the use of cataloging, indexing, records management, and the creation of finding aids.
So will ABC have some data holes? Oh yeah, without a doubt.
17
Seems smart to me. And, frankly, I think your thought process is a bit stuck up. There will always be a place in this world for the novel, but you don't have to associate everything in the world with paper. Frankly, you're also a hipster green person, you should love them going digital.
18
Yeah, computers are way more green than renewable paper. Computers don't require massive amounts of electricity, or use tons of rare minerals, or leach those same chemicals back into the ground when they are landfilled after just a couple of years. Wait, yes they do. Data centers are one of the biggest users of power (for computing power and then again for the air-conditioning required by the heat that the computing power generates).
19
@18: For a large, static collection of data -- like a research library -- it's really hard to imagine digital being less energy efficient. The amount of space you save by converting an entire floor of printed materials to three or four 3.5" hard disks is ridiculous. The security one gains by being able to back up this data and prevent accidental or malicious theft is significant. And a relatively unchanging catalog database isn't going to require a datacenter so much as a couple of powerhouse database computers.
Converting a research library to digital material is definitely a green move.
Converting a research library to digital material is definitely a green move.
20
Oh, yeah - and electronic data frequently ends up using MORE paper, because people print off the stuff they want, and then the next guy prints it off again, because the first copy has gone into the recycling bin by then, and so on, hundreds of times instead of once. Super green, that.
22
The entire end to end process of creating paper, printing, and transporting it around the world is environmentally friendly. And sustainable, too. Just go check it out in South China. Cleanest place you'll ever visit.
23
Fnarf - it's not like people never make photocopies of books and old newspaper articles to take home with them, though. You'd never be able to "borrow" an old copy of a newspaper - it stays in the library.
24
Its not like its the library of congress. These are not the only copies.
I bet nobody even goes in there anymore.
I bet nobody even goes in there anymore.
25
Old Fart @18:
Given that paper books and periodicals are completely fucking useless for research these days, who cares if it takes less energy to produce and store them compared to digital?
Which it doesn't, by the way, if you are talking about quantity of information per quantity of power consumed.
Given that paper books and periodicals are completely fucking useless for research these days, who cares if it takes less energy to produce and store them compared to digital?
Which it doesn't, by the way, if you are talking about quantity of information per quantity of power consumed.
26
Sometimes people write novels and they just be so wordy and so self-absorbed. I am not a fan of books. I would never want a book's autograph. I am a proud non-reader of books.
27
@25 "Given that paper books and periodicals are completely fucking useless for research these days," that's just not true ... I've been a research assistant on and off in the past couple years and am in grad school and there have been plenty of times that I had to go to the actual physical library to find actual physical books/articles.
You often can find info that is "good enough" on the internet, but if you're attempting to find really authoritative, relevant sources, sometimes (not always, obv, or perhaps for most people very often) you have to find them in a library or archive. Maybe once deep web searching has gotten off the ground ... but then again, maybe not.
and @18 databases are NOT static, they are, if they're good databases worth purchasing subscriptions to, are updated daily or weekly. Data-centers are necessary. Just pointing that out hopefully without getting embroiled in the green argument.
You often can find info that is "good enough" on the internet, but if you're attempting to find really authoritative, relevant sources, sometimes (not always, obv, or perhaps for most people very often) you have to find them in a library or archive. Maybe once deep web searching has gotten off the ground ... but then again, maybe not.
and @18 databases are NOT static, they are, if they're good databases worth purchasing subscriptions to, are updated daily or weekly. Data-centers are necessary. Just pointing that out hopefully without getting embroiled in the green argument.
28
@27,
I remember having to do the same thing when I was in grad school and it annoyed the fuck out of my. Mostly because I had to put on pants. I could see books not being online, but I could never fathom why every article had not been digitized.
Thankfully that is not a problem in the field I am in now (law). The online legal sources are damn incredible. Expensive as fuck, but damn incredible.
I remember having to do the same thing when I was in grad school and it annoyed the fuck out of my. Mostly because I had to put on pants. I could see books not being online, but I could never fathom why every article had not been digitized.
Thankfully that is not a problem in the field I am in now (law). The online legal sources are damn incredible. Expensive as fuck, but damn incredible.
29
Fnarf, I respectfully must tell you that your logic is bullshit. Data centers are often very, very low energy, and the cost of them running constantly is generally less than printing presses would ever be. To argue that a static line of electricity coming from a data center, where they generally have tons of efficiency measures in place (not necessarily because they're green but because they want to SAVE MONEY) seems ridiculous to me.
I still argue Paul is being a stuck up Bookie.
I still argue Paul is being a stuck up Bookie.
30
@29: Fnarf makes a good point that is not so easily brushed aside. Unless you are prepared to run some numbers for full life cycle comparisons between printed books and data centers to compare things like energy use, pollutants released, etc. you can't just dismiss the argument out of hand.
31
7 and 14 are very much on target here. (also, I strongly suspect I had 14 for a couple classes at the iSchool) Database subscriptions are a recurring cost that doesn't carry value over from year to year. Paper subscriptions give you something that keeps it's value until it gets flooded, burned, or eaten by insects. Now for newsroom research, it's probably better and cheaper for them to pay for access to a major university library and just park their research assistants there. A news agency just can't spring for the cash on a library that UW (for example) can.
As for being green, data storage is a constant energy drain. Books just sit there.
As for being green, data storage is a constant energy drain. Books just sit there.
32
@31: Which iSchool? I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours.
If you don't want to name names, you can just give the region. ;)
If you don't want to name names, you can just give the region. ;)
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