Digital University Collections and the Open Access System

Abstract

In the contemporary era, the university libraries are forced to adapt to new technologies and digital requirements, becoming the main information resources for educational and research activities. The concept of Information Society is defined by the exchange of information, and technology is the basis of this society. Romanian university libraries must adapt to these challenges by digitizing their collections, creating digital archives that provide quick and diversified access to the necessary information.
Within the Romanian university libraries, it is necessary to digitize the collections in order to meet the online users’ needs, and their development strategies must be correlated with the available funding. The digitization process must take into account the type of document and the required resources, such as metadata and access to information. The cooperation with other libraries and institutions is essential in order to avoid the repeated digitization of the same documents.
Currently the Romanian university libraries face challenges regarding access to digitized documents and the development of users’ digital services. The cooperation with other institutions, such as the National Digital Library, is crucial for preserving the cultural heritage and for diversifying the access to information. The digitization process requires planning, financial resources and IT specialists in order to ensure its success.