In this information age and in the time of the super-virus, when online has come to the forefront of how libraries continue to deliver excellent services to their communities, it is even more important that libraries ensure that they are getting the most benefit from their cultural and intellectual records.
Simon Tanner, Professor of Digital Cultural Heritage at Kings College – London, was on the Europeana Impact Taskforce that developed the Impact Playbook. He now brings us this very timely title to assist with our review of online content. ‘Deliver impact with digital resources’ aims to help those in the GLAM sector to demonstrate to our decision makers, that these resources deliver a wide range of benefits – both financially and innovatively.
Professor Tanner introduces a new way of thinking strategy with online resources and introduces an evidence-based model. The strategy – Balanced Value Impact Model (BVI Model) has been updated and enables libraries to present an argument to decisions makers, ‘ … that they are an evidence based organisation, working in innovative modes with digital resources for the positive social and economic benefits of their communities.’
It beings with a guide to using the model and introduces different ways of gathering data and collating evidence, it then explores strategy for digital resources in the current environment and completes the coverage by showing how to work with users and decision makers on making the most of our online content. This work is further supplemented by case studies, including detailed studies from Europeana and the Wellcome Trust; with additional, more concise studies from other sectors and notable institutions.
Aimed at those managing the ‘institutional memories’ of their organisation in the GLAM sector, it is also beneficial to those studying in those fields. It is accessible, easy to read, with tables and concise case studies peppered throughout to illustrate and clarify, as well as having focused sections on the detailed case studies. A comprehensive bibliography gives more than enough follow up materials for those seeking this.
I recommend this title for all with responsibility for digital repositories, local history, art works and more in our libraries, that are working diligently to expose this content to an online audience.