How do you balance the need for physical access to special collections materials with the demand for digital access?

Sample interview questions: How do you balance the need for physical access to special collections materials with the demand for digital access?

Sample answer:

• Assess the Needs of Your Users: Conduct research and surveys to understand the requirements and preferences of your users. Determine the materials they request most frequently, their preferred methods of access, and any barriers they face in accessing physical or digital collections.

• Develop a Digitization Strategy: Create a strategic plan for digitizing special collections materials. Prioritize items based on their research value, preservation needs, and user demand. Allocate appropriate resources to support the scanning, processing, and metadata creation processes.

• Provide Dual Access Options: When possible, offer both physical and digital access to special collections materials. This allows researchers to choose the mode of access that best meets their needs, whether it’s handling the physical item or exploring it online.

• Ensure Digitization Standards: Ensure that digitized materials meet industry standards for quality, resolution, and metadata. This ensures that the digital files are usable for research and preservation purposes and are compatible with digital repositories and online platforms.

• Manage Access Rights and Restrictions: Read full answer

  Source: https://hireabo.com/job/18_0_6/Special%20Collections%20Librarian