Welcome

Welcome to this blog pertaining to the controversies surrounding the digital libraries. This blog will act as a gathering point for my research study supporting a paper for WR200A.

Most definitions of the word library begin describing it as a physical space such as a building or place. With the onset of the Information Age, the concept of a library has changed from the physical place to a virtual space. Do the benefits of digital information and increased access to the material outweigh any need for actual books and physical libraries? What impact does this have on myself as a dyslexic individual?

Currently there is a push to create vast archives of digital material. Some have pushed for open access while others such as Google have garnered tight control. Google and the World Brain, one of the movies featured at the Milwaukee Film Festival voices many concerns regarding this corporate control of information. One written source that explores these topics is World Brain by H. G. Wells.

The Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University focuses on the study of cyberspace. Many related topics such as Wikipedia have early ties to this research center. This organization has also hosted several conferences on open libraries and has been very involved with the Google Book project.

Why is it important to preserve cultural items such as books, songs, and artwork from our past? Should they be available to the general public? If access to these kinds of works are restricted or prevented completely, what impact does this have on our society? Are digital archives critical for society to continue a rich cultural civilization? Are open access and public domain critical to maintain cultural cohesion? How do these discussions parallel some of the questions raised by Lucy Lippard in All Over the Place?

As a dyslexic student that uses the digital format of textbooks extensively, the benefits of digital information along with the increased access to the material outweigh the concerns.