Editing Digitization (section)

==Library preservation==
{{main|Preservation (library and archival science)}}
[[File:Dunhuang manuscript digitisation.jpg|right|thumb|220px|Digitization at the [[British Library]] of a [[Dunhuang manuscripts|Dunhuang manuscript]] for the [[International Dunhuang Project]]]]
In the context of libraries, archives, and museums, digitization is a means of creating digital surrogates of analog materials, such as books, newspapers, [[microfilm]] and videotapes, offers a variety of benefits, including increasing access, especially for patrons at a distance; contributing to collection development, through collaborative initiatives; enhancing the potential for research and education; and supporting preservation activities.<ref>Hughes, Lorna M.  (2004). ''Digitizing Collections: Strategic Issues for the Information Manager''. London: Facet Publishing. {{ISBN|1-85604-466-1}}. Chapter 1, "Why digitize? The costs and benefits of digitization", p. 3-30; here, especially p. 9-17.</ref> Digitization can provide a means of preserving the content of the materials by creating an accessible facsimile of the object in order to put less strain on already fragile originals. For sounds, digitization of legacy analog recordings is essential insurance against technological obsolescence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iasa-web.org/tc04/audio-preservation|title=Guidelines on the Production and Preservation of Digital Audio Objects (web edition)|work=iasa-web.org}}</ref> A fundamental aspect of planning digitization projects is to ensure that the digital files themselves are preserved and remain accessible;<ref>Hughes (2004), p. 204.</ref> the term "[[digital preservation]]," in its most basic sense, refers to an array of activities undertaken to maintain access to digital materials over time.<ref>{{cite journal | title =What is Digital Preservation? | last = Caplan | first = Priscilla | journal =  Library Technology Reports |volume = 44 |issue = 2 |date=February–March 2008|page = 7 |url=https://journals.ala.org/ltr/article/view/4224/4808|access-date=2016-10-26}}</ref>

The prevalent [[Brittle Books Program|Brittle Books]] issue facing libraries across the world is being addressed with a digital solution for long term book preservation.<ref>Cloonan, M.V. and Sanett, S.  "The Preservation of Digital Content," Libraries and the Academy.  Vol. 5, No. 2 (2005): 213–37.</ref>  Since the mid-1800s, books were printed on [[pulp (paper)|wood-pulp paper]], which turns acidic as it decays. Deterioration may advance to a point where a book is completely unusable. In theory, if these widely circulated titles are not treated with de-acidification processes, the materials upon those acid pages will be lost. As digital technology evolves, it is increasingly preferred as a method of preserving these materials, mainly because it can provide easier access points and significantly reduce the need for physical storage space.

Cambridge University Library is working on the [[Cambridge Digital Library]], which will initially contain digitised versions of many of its most important works relating to science and religion. These include examples such as Isaac Newton's personally annotated first edition of his ''[[Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica]]''<ref>{{cite web|last=Newton|first=Isaac|title=Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica|url=http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/PR-ADV-B-00039-00001/|publisher=Cambridge University Digital Library|access-date=10 January 2012}}</ref> as well as college notebooks<ref>{{cite web|last=Newton|first=Isaac|title=Trinity College Notebook|url=http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-ADD-03996/|publisher=Cambridge University Digital Library|access-date=10 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Newton|first=Isaac|title=College Notebook|url=http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-ADD-04000/|publisher=Cambridge University Digital Library|access-date=10 January 2012}}</ref>  and other papers,<ref>{{cite web|last=Newton|first=Isaac|title=Newton Papers|url=http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/newton|publisher=Cambridge University Digital Library|access-date=10 January 2012}}</ref> and some Islamic manuscripts such as a [[Quran]]<ref>{{cite web|title=al-Qurʼān|url=http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-NN-00003-00075/|publisher=Cambridge University Digital Library|access-date=10 January 2012}}</ref> from Tipu Sahib's library.

Google, Inc. has taken steps towards attempting to digitize every title with "[[Google Book Search]]".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/|title=Google Books}}</ref>  While some academic libraries have been contracted by the service, issues of copyright law violations threaten to derail the project.<ref>Baksik, C.  "Fair Use or Exploitation?  The Google Book Search Controversy," Libraries and the Academy.  Vol. 6, No. 2 (2006): 399–415.</ref>  However, it does provide – at the very least – an online consortium for libraries to exchange information and for researchers to search for titles as well as review the materials.