Operational definitions for value of digital libraries

[Jody DeRidder]

In drafting the first pages for our new DLF Assessment Wiki, I realized we have not yet begun to discuss how we would define value for digital libraries in general.

My first thoughts around this are that one way we could define value could be that content is cited regularly in publications;  or that we could demonstrate that a certain percentage of our target audience regularly accesses/uses the content.

What do you think?  How can we define the value of digital libraries?

Jody DeRidder

Head, Digital Services

University of Alabama Libraries    

[Jody DeRidder]

I just realized that link is bad.  Let's try again.   Our new DLF Assessment wiki site is here: http://www.wiki.diglib.org/Assessment

Feedback, suggestions welcome.  Also, please let me know if you'd like to join any of the small working groups now underway, on the topics of analytics, altmetrics and citations, user studies, and cost assessment.

Thanks, and Happy New Year!!

--jody