QUESTIONNAIRE

 

 

Important Definitions

 

> What does "digital documents" mean?

By "digital documents" we understand documents which are produced digitally right from the start ("born digital"),

i.e. for instance the digital print files of a book or an article, online-journals, documents published on DVD/CD-ROM

as well as websites. Our usage of the term "digital documents" does not refer to digitalized copies of printed books or journals.

 

> What does "long-term preservation of digital documents" mean?

By this we understand procedures and strategies which guarantee that authentic versions of contemporary digital documents

will also be accessible and usable with future hardware and software. The simple creation of regular backups would be

part of such a strategy, but it is by no means sufficient to guarantee the future availability of digital documents.

 

> What does "digital repository" mean?

By "digital repository" we mean an electronic system, in which digital documents can be archived and kept accessible

on a durable basis. A digital repository has to be understood as a sub-system of a digital library which guarantees

the long term preservation, accessibility, integrity and authenticity of digital documents.

 

 

Question 1

 

Generally speaking, how important do you consider the long-term preservation of digital documents?

 

The long term preservation of digital documents is:

o   Very important

o   Rather important

o   Rather unimportant

o   Totally unimportant

o   Don't know

 

 

Question 2

 

Generally speaking, do you consider the long-term preservation of digital documents to be an intrinsic task of libraries?

 

o   Yes (> proceed with question 3)

o   No (> proceed with question 2.1)

o   Don't know (> proceed with question 3)

 

 

Question 2.1

 

Why do you not generally consider the long-term preservation of digital documents to be an intrinsic task of libraries?

In your opinion, who should take over this task?

___________________________________________

(> proceed with question 4)

 

 

 


Question 3

 

Do you consider the long-term preservation of digital documents to be an intrinsic task of your own library?

 

o   Yes (> proceed with question 3.2)

o   No (> proceed with question 3.1)

o   Don't know (> proceed with question 4)

 

 

Question 3.1

 

Why do you not consider the long-term preservation of digital documents to be an intrinsic task of your own library?

In your opinion, who should take over this task?

________________________________

 

Which other institutions that could perform this task instead of your library already offer a digital repository?

________________________________

(> proceed with question 11)

 

 

Question 3.2

 

Which kinds of digital documents should be archived in your library most urgently?

(1 = very important, 2 = rather important, 3 = rather unimportant, 4 = totally unimportant)

 

________ Ready-to-print master files (PDF, QuarkExpress-files, digital Printfiles, etc)

________ Offline documents (DVDs, CD-ROMs, etc)

________ Online documents (E-Journals und E-Newspapers, E-Prints, etc)

________ Websites

________ Other types of digital documents, such as ________________________

 

 

 

Question 4

 

Does your library already maintain a repository of digital documents?

 

o   Yes. Our digital repository is accessible online at http://_________________.

(> proceed with question 5)

o   Not yet, but there are plans to establish one.

The implementation of our digital repository is scheduled for the year _________________.

(> proceed with question 5)

o   No, and there are no plans to establish one at present.

(> proceed with question 11)

 

 


Question 5

 

Does your library have any written guidelines for the long-term preservation of digital documents?

 

o   Yes. These guidelines are published at http://____________. 

(> proceed with question 5.1)

o   Yes, we do have written guidelines, but they are not accessible to the public.

(> proceed with question 5.1)

o   No, we do not have any written guidelines as yet, but there are plans to create some.

(> proceed with question 6)

o   No, we do not have any written guidelines, and at present there are no plans to create any.

(> proceed with question 6)

 

 

Question 5.1

 

Does your library have any written guidelines for the collection of digital documents?

 

o   Yes. These guidelines are published at http://____________. 

o   Yes, we do have written guidelines, but they are not accessible to the public.

o   No, we do not have any written guidelines as yet, but there are plans to create some.

o   No, we do not have any written guidelines, and at present there are no plans to create any.

 

 

Question 6

 

Which software solution do you use (or intend to use) for your digital repository?

 

o   Open source software, namely___________________________

o   Commercial software, namely __________________________

o   Specifically developed software, namely ___________________________

o   Mixed software, namely ______________________________

o   Not yet decided

o   Don't know

 

 

Question 7

 

Which kinds of digital documents do you already archive at your library?

 

o   Ready-to-print master files (PDF, QuarkExpress-files, digital Printfiles, etc)

o   Offline documents (DVDs, CD-ROMs, etc)

o   Online documents (E-Journals und E-Newspapers, E-Prints, etc)

o   Websites

o   Other types of digital documents, namely _________________________

 

 

Question 7.1

 

How many of these digital documents do you already archive at your library?

Please estimate the approximate number. 

 

________ Ready-to-print master files (PDF, QuarkExpress-files, digital Printfiles, etc)

________ Offline documents (DVDs, CD-ROMs, etc)

________ Online documents (E-Journals und E-Newspapers, E-Prints, etc)

________ Websites

________ Other types of digital documents, namely ____________________

 

 


Question 8

 

How would you assess your digital repository in terms of technical, structural and organizational quality,

compared to other libraries of a similar size?

 

o   Considerably better

o   Better

o   Comparable to others

o   Worse

o   Considerably worse

o   Don't know

 

 

Question 9

 

Which department(s) is (are) responsible for the long-term preservation of digital documents

within the organizational structure of your library?

 

o   A new department was created for that particular purpose, namely ______________.

o   An existing department was charged with the long-term preservation of digital documents

in addition to existing tasks, namely ________________.

o   Several departments collaborate on this matter, namely _____________.

 

 

Question 10

 

How is the long-term preservation of digital documents financed at your library?

Please indicate the ratios of financing allocated from the library budget and from third-party funds, respectively.

 

o   Exclusively from the library’s own budget

o   Mainly from the library’s own budget

o   Mainly from third-party funds

o   Exclusively from third-party funds

o   Ratios are approximately equal

o   Don't know

 

 

 

Question 11

 

Please estimate the probability that contemporary digital documents will still be available and usable in future, in your own opinion?

 

In  5 years:   

o Very probable  o Quite probable  o Rather improbable o Most improbable

 

In 20 years:   

o Very probable  o Quite probable  o Rather improbable o Most improbable

 

In 50 years:   

o Very probable  o Quite probable  o Rather improbable o Most improbable

 

In 100 years:   

o Very probable  o Quite probable  o Rather improbable o Most improbable

 

In 500 years:   

o Very probable  o Quite probable  o Rather improbable o Most improbable

 


Respondent Data

 

Name of your department:  ___________________

Your name:  ___________________

Your email:   ___________________

 

Your position:

o   Head of library/ Chief librarian 

o   Head of department

o   Project manager 

o   Employee 

 

Your background:  

o   Librarian 

o   Technician / IT

o   Manager  

o   Scientist

 

Your Age:  

o   Under 31

o   31-40 years   

o   41-50 years   

o   51-60 years    

o   Over 60