Establishing a Digital Library Centre

 By John Kirriemuir

1. Introduction

This article discusses some of the issues that arise when an academic department, unit or institution moves from possessing a few digital library projects and services, to possessing an integrated digital library centre.
The article is based on:

1. the experiences of the author, who has worked in four digital library centres (according to the definition in the next section) in UK higher education.
2. replies from various people who have been employed by digital/electronic library projects and services over the past decade, to emailed questions about various aspects of digital library centre culture
3. examples of incidents or case studies of things that have occurred within UK digital library centres

It does not prescribe a 'one model fits all' plan for all budding digital library centres. There are many factors and variables, some constantly changing, that influence a successful - or unsuccessful - centre; this article touches on a selection. Having said that, large consideration is given to the issues of staffing and funding, which (along with the struggle for accommodation) appear to be the main issues that preoccupy people involved in running digital library centres