Stepping Away from the Silos

Chapter 1

Introduction

Digitisation since the 1990s

Abstract

This chapter traces the key stages in the digitisation of analogue materials over some 20 years. It outlines the development of digitisation from an innovative technology to its current position as a core element of the increasingly dominant digital environment. Whilst standards and good practice have matured in many aspects of the digitisation process, areas of weakness remain. Intellectual content is poorly coordinated in strategic terms, and there has been limited attention to common criteria for the selection of intellectual content. These issues are to be examined in the context of the UK heritage and educational sectors, and of higher education in particular. Coverage concentrates ...