Controlled digital lending: Past emergency implementation led to future exploration

Abstract

The fundamental mission of the library is to provide users with unrestricted access to library resources anytime, anywhere regardless of their physical location, disability, or other circumstances. Library Access Service departments across the nation have been an innovation engine of creativity and opportunity for many decades. The global epidemiology outbreak experience illuminates areas for potential reforming beyond traditional library services. Controlled Digital Lending (CDL) is one of the emerging modern technologies libraries have used to deliver information digitally in support of online learning and teaching, to make educational materials more affordable and more accessible during the global health crisis. CDL opens a new frontier of library services, as a mechanism for the library practice to enhance user’s experience of using libraries’ services. By exploring this tool, libraries can distribute resources in an effective and equitable way. This paper shares the journey of piloting a CDL program at a large R1 institution to ensure students have reliable, affordable access to course materials they need during the pandemic. The paper demonstrates the development of the CDL platforms, policies, and implementation plans and further discusses challenges and lessons learned and how the library community plans to sustain the program into future library services.

Keywords:

• Access service
• controlled digital lending
• course reserves
• emerging technologies
• equitable access

Acknowledgments

Special thanks go to the University Office of General Council, The George A. Smathers library administration, and the Libraries’ copyright librarian Perry Collins. A big thanks to Kyle K. Courtney, Harvard University Copyright Librarian, and David Hansen, lead Copyright & Information Policy Officer and Associate University Librarian at Duke University for their Controlled Digital Lending white paper.

Our heartfelt thanks go to the Head of Access, Information and Collection Services and Operations Nicholas Alongi, and Digital Service Manager Wittawat Meesangnil at Fordham University for their generous help in re-writing a new App for us as well as helping us test it out. Thanks to Qinghua Xu, the Director of Access service at the New York University Shanghai campus for sharing their Google script with the access services community.

Lastly, many thanks to our Library IT colleagues, Laurie Taylor, Senior Director for Library Technology & Digital Strategies, Todd Digby, Chair, Library Technology Service, Chris Nicolich, application developer analyst, and James Hunn, application database administrator for their leadership and working with the University IT department to help us set up the platform and provide ongoing maintenance.