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Silver lining of the COVID-19 crisis for digital libraries in terms of remote access

Silver lining of the COVID-19 crisis for digital libraries in terms of remote access The paper aims to describe a digital library (DL) model that attempts to replace traditional library services during the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, set in the context of current copyright laws. A server instance protected by shibboleth authentication enabled students and academic staff access remotely even copyright-protected works for the period of the lockdown. Through brief observation of user behaviour in this server instance, the paper explores accessed titles, especially with focus on their copyright status.Design/methodology/approachLibrary usage was observed in a branch of a DL, which enabled remote access to copyright-protected documents. Data were obtained from Google Analytics and access logs enriched with metadata.FindingsAcademic DL users overwhelmingly preferred titles that are copyright protected, monographs in particular. Their spectrum of interests was wide, and thus, mass digitisation is essential.Originality/valueThe paper presents a solution to provide free remote access to library users during closure on a national level. The case study reveals the needs and interests of DL users via a brief analysis of accessed titles and gives grounds for further changes towards a more open remote access DL model, which would be possible within the current copyright restrictions. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Digital Library Perspectives Emerald Publishing

Silver lining of the COVID-19 crisis for digital libraries in terms of remote access

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References (27)

Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
© Emerald Publishing Limited
ISSN
2059-5816
eISSN
2059-5816
DOI
10.1108/dlp-05-2020-0026
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The paper aims to describe a digital library (DL) model that attempts to replace traditional library services during the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, set in the context of current copyright laws. A server instance protected by shibboleth authentication enabled students and academic staff access remotely even copyright-protected works for the period of the lockdown. Through brief observation of user behaviour in this server instance, the paper explores accessed titles, especially with focus on their copyright status.Design/methodology/approachLibrary usage was observed in a branch of a DL, which enabled remote access to copyright-protected documents. Data were obtained from Google Analytics and access logs enriched with metadata.FindingsAcademic DL users overwhelmingly preferred titles that are copyright protected, monographs in particular. Their spectrum of interests was wide, and thus, mass digitisation is essential.Originality/valueThe paper presents a solution to provide free remote access to library users during closure on a national level. The case study reveals the needs and interests of DL users via a brief analysis of accessed titles and gives grounds for further changes towards a more open remote access DL model, which would be possible within the current copyright restrictions.

Journal

Digital Library Perspectives – Emerald Publishing

Published: Aug 12, 2020

Keywords: Lockdown; Digital libraries; Copyright; Digital transformation; Library usage; Access logs

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