Cambridge Library Collection: Library & Press Partner for Online & POD Access to Special Collections

The Cambridge Library Collection - Books of Enduring Scholarly Value

I used to think of digitization as an incredibly boring topic but the continuing drive to move special collections online, giving potentially universal access to rare materials previously limited to fixed locations, along with Google's massive scanning operation have certainly changed that landscape.

The above video, an excellent marketing tool, discusses the Cambridge Library Collection, a project that grew out of a partnership between the Cambridge University Library and the Cambridge University Press.

What I especially appreciate here is the addition of publish-on-demand (POD) services to the process of scanning out-of-print titles for online access. As I understand it, the Library is responsible for the digitization of the books and maintenance of those archives while the Press handles the publish-on-demand aspect providing individual copies as needed.

This is an awesome example of a partnership that builds on individual strengths to create a complete system providing access to otherwise difficult to obtain materials.

Via TeleRead.