Digital storage may be in UNC libraries' future

Stacks of novels and academic journals line the shelves of the University’s libraries.

Members of the campus community can access those works easily if they want to further their research.

Modern academics, however, live in a world of digital technology.

And as time progresses, University leaders are questioning the role that printed publications will play in the future of education.

“With technology being more and more capable, we can count on the fact that in the future, there is likely to be much more opportunity to keep various kinds of resources in a digital format,” said Judith Wegner, chairwoman of the faculty.

This semester, administrators have toyed with the idea of creating a task force to deal with the prevalence of digitalization in other aspects of education.

“It has been recommended to (Provost Robert Shelton) that a task force be formed by various stakeholders in the University to explore the possibilities for creating a digital curation center,” said University librarian Sarah Michalak.

She described that electronic curation center as a “test vat” that would serve as the foundation for digital research at the University.

“Ideally, we would be able to create a very long-lasting, reliable method of storing the University’s digital information,” she said.

“As digital information is taking over, we need to be able to figure out ways to make that last.”

Wegner said that it is important that a task force tackle the issue because of the topic’s novelty.

“This is something we’d like to be leading,” Wegner said. “It’s clear people are trying to sort this out all over the place.”

The University, in creating electronic curation, is trying to provide an example for research institutions throughout the world, Michalak said.

“We would like to be able to publish information for other universities about economical and highly reliable methods of storing and caring for an institution’s electronic information,” she said.

Shelton has not officially responded to the Faculty Council’s recommendation, Michalak said.

But Shelton said he would like to see the creation of a task force by the end of the semester.

“If we can start calling people and identifying members of the task force by the end of the semester, that would be great,” he said.

“This is a group that can collect information over the summer and do detailed work during the fall.”

Shelton said that he talked to Michalak last week. “She’s the person I would want to lead the task force,” he said.

Some roadblocks stand in the way of the creation of a digital information library. Officials said their worries include funding, the ability to find information in an electronic system and compatibility with new software and hardware.

But Michalak said the importance of electronic curation will far outweigh any challenges.

“Overall, there really isn’t a downside,” she said. Electronic curation will be a valuable asset for UNC, and “we need to find a way to protect and preserve this information. … This is an absolute necessity for the future well-being of the institution.”

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.