Prelude to a Digital Music Library at the Pennsylvania State University

Abstract

The three significant factors in planning and implementing a digital music initiative are infrastructure, collections, and human resources, with a fourth factor, funding, affecting all decisions. By examining these issues it is possible to describe the Penn State experience in the initial stages of creating a digital music library and offer suggestions and experiences that may assist others in planning, developing, and evaluating a similar service. The benefits of digitizing the music collection include increased access and the potential for enhanced preservation. At Pennsylvania State University, collection decisions have been based on course-related needs.