Week 12 Readings

Week 12 (or: almost done with the semester)
Readings for this week:
Implementing Policies for Access Management by Arms
Chapter 6 Economics by Arms
Chapter 10 Economics by Lesk

Security and economics, I have to admit, are not issues that ever really occurred to me when I thought about the tasks of starting and maintaining a digital library. Although they are obviously extremely important, I did not realize that myself or my institution would really need to take extra measures to ensure security for the digital library.
According to Arms, (who has a lot to say on this topic), in Implementing Policies for Access Management, security is usually motivated by payments. Institutions wish to have control over those who are accessing digital materials because they require payment for access. I find this to be very true at the University of Pittsburgh. Because a log-in is required for those hoping to access the internet and the academic research databases, it can get a little hectic at the reference desk when patrons that are not university-affiliated wish to use the computers.
The general access model that Arms describes appears overly simple. But this is only in appearance. What allows for complexity is what Arms calls, "dynamic evaluation of roles, attributes, and policies." Keeping all important information in a container that can be stored in a repository allows for better control and security.
Authentication is one way to make certain that only users who are allowed access will receive access to digital publications. Payment and then agreements regarding password access also help to establish rules and boundaries about who is allowed access.
A great point that Arms brings up is that of interoperability. Access can be given through the attributes used for the DL, but if not all digital libraries are using the same system with attributes it may not work seamlessly.
Operations involving the different types of enforcement of policies for access can be technical, legal, contractual, and institutional. These can be helped along by an access statement issued to users and possible users.

While Lesk takes his chapter on Economics to a different level, explaining the investments libraries make and the money that is saved by utilizing institution-wide subscriptions, he also comments fundamentally on access and usage. Both cost and quality of materials are based on the simple supply-demand model.
Costs and funding for libraries are going up as publishers are deciding not to print journals and instead to offer them electronically only. While this is often a higher subscription rate for libraries with added paper costs for printing that either the library or its users have to pay for, it is also easier for patrons. Therefore the system is in high demand.
Digitally this makes interoperability extremely important. But is it working? According to Lesk the funding for libraries is an important aspect of the system. (Well, not according to Lesk ONLY, it's rather obvious without his input that it is an important asepct of the system.) Bundling journals helps to alleviate extra costs but it does create the problem of repetition and payment for journals and databases that a library may already have paid for through someone else.
Lesk mentions the idea of the digital cash register that is attributed to Ted Nelson. This idea that inserting a quote from another author will lead to the patron or user having to pay for the use and viewing of the quote is dubbed by Nelson as transclusion. The idea of micropayments is relatively new and I'm not sure that if it is widespread it is called the same name.
The issue of access is not only one that patrons have to deal with, but libraries as well. While they used to own all of their materials because they were physically purchased and placed within the library, now the idea of borrowing and access is the main privilege that is paid for. Publishers mainly only allow access to materials that are currently paid for. But once a library stops paying for their subscription, they do not have access to previous issues that they "paid for." This is a potentially negative position for libraries.
While Lesk's position on economics regarding digital libraries does not seem to be particularly positive, he does point out some major aspects that libraries need to be aware of and to deal with.

Arms also writes a chapter on Economics and he is slightly more hopeful when speaking about the ways that libraries can overcome their problems with ownership and access. Arms really focuses on how library environments are changing quickly and libraries need to accept and adapt to all the digital changes that are being made so quickly. Greed and fear: these are the driving factors behind publisher's business decisions. According to Arms. While he does not have particularly positive things to say about how publishing houses are running their business and dealings with libraries, he is fairly positive in his returns on libraries. Libraries strive for access for the people. Many different kinds of users and access for all, hopefully.
Arms cites different research organizations that are open to working interoperably with libraries to create access for its materials. This provides an open framework for communication and interchange between "publishers" and libraries. How this relates to economics is a slightly different matter.
Arms brings up the interesting point of tv and how ppl pay for tv. They are fine with regular payments that are not one-time or spontaneous. While physical materials and publishing is no longer the norm with journals, it is also becoming slightly less prominent with books. Companies like ebrary are promoting online access to books where users have to follow parameters for printing. Copyright laws are the reason that patrons cannot print more than a few pages at a time, depending on the book.
All of these readings have had some enlightening aspects but not many for me.

Muddiest Point
Have you seen social impacts on libraries from personal experience?