UC Libraries-research-expanding-use-digitized-books | UC Davis

"The University of California libraries — which comprise the largest university research library in the world — are launching a landmark research project to investigate the potential for expanded lawful use of digitized books held by academic and research libraries. The Mellon Foundation is providing $1.1 million support for Project LEND (Library Expansion of Networked Delivery), a two-year project that the UC Davis Library will lead on behalf of the 10-campus UC system.... The project’s broad investigation aims to extend and strengthen the historical role of academic libraries in making information as broadly accessible as possible for use in research and education. Project teams will: use focus groups and other methods to understand the needs of UC faculty and students for a range of research, education and clinical care scenarios evaluate the legal frameworks under which libraries could provide expanded access to digitized books, including those still in copyright review and analyze existing technology platforms and systems for sharing and interacting with digital books, and explore the possibilities for creating new systems and services determine the optimal composition of a digital book collection to meet user needs; what digitized collections are currently available or where more digitization efforts may be required; and how best to manage both print and digitized collections."