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E stablishing a successful digitization program is a dialog and process already undertaken or currently underway at many academic libraries. In 2002, according to an Institute of Museum and Library Services report, "thirty-four percent of academic libraries reported digitization activities within the past 12 months." Nineteen percent expect to be involved in digitization work in the next twelve months, and forty-four percent beyond twelve months.1 More current statistics from a subsequent study in 2004 reflected that digitization work has both continued and expanded, with half of all academic libraries performing digitization activities.2 Fifty-five percent of ARL libraries responded to a survey informing part of the 2006 Association of Research Libraries (ARL) study Managing Digitization Activities; of these, 97 percent of the respondents indicated engagement in digitization. 3 The 2008 Ithaka study Key Stakeholders in the Digital Transformation in Higher Education found that nearly 80 percent of large academic libraries either already have or plan to have digital repositories. 4 With digitization becoming the norm in many institutions, the time is right to consider what factors contribute to the success and rapid growth of some library digitization programs while other institutions find digitization challenging to sustain.The evolution of digitization at the UNLV Libraries is doubtless a journey many institutions have undertaken.Over the past couple of years, those responsible for such a program at the UNLV Libraries have had the opportunity to revitalize the program and help collaboratively address some key philosophical questions that had not been systematically asked before, let alone answered. Associated with this was a concerted focus to engage other less involved staff. One goal was to help educate them on academic digitization programs. Another goal was to provide an opportunity for input on key questions related to the programs' strategic direction. The authors administered a 26-question survey to the 123 members of the ARL. The focus of this survey was different from the previously mentioned ARL study Managing Digitization Activities, though several of the questions overlapped to some degree. In addition to demographic or concrete factual types of questions, the UNLV Libraries Digitization Survey had several questions focused on perceptions-that is, staff support, administrative support, challenges, and benefits. Areas of overlap with the earlier ARL survey are mentioned in the appropriate context. Though UNLV isn't a member of the ARL, we consider ourselves a research library, and, regardless, it was a convenient way to provide some structure to the survey. Survey responses were collected for a forty-five-day period from mid-June to late July, 2008. Through visiting each and every ARL library's website, the authors identified the individuals that appeared to be the "leaders" of the ARL digitization programs, with instructions to forward the message to a colleague if n Context of the UNLV Libraries'...

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Purpose Digital library managers are faced with growing pressure to digitize materials efficiently on a larger scale. This paper aims to address the staffing and other resources needed to evolve smaller scope operations into teams capable of outputting larger-scale production. Design/methodology/approach Much of the current literature focuses on philosophy of these projects and issues of metadata and user access. In contrast, this article seeks to supply the much-needed practical information for digital library managers who need to take immediate action to meet new mandates and reach higher target goals within the constraints of limited resources. Findings The author will provide an overview of resources needed to increase digitization output and provide an analysis of three key resources that can be targeted by digital library managers in a range of environments. These resources will be examined with practical advice given on how new staffing configurations, outsourcing of materials and high-efficiency equipment can be implemented in phases. Originality/value This paper examines the gap between smaller-scale digitization and successful large-scale projects, and offers several possible scenarios for organizations to consider as they choose to move forward in a way that suits their goals. The focus of this study is neither on the rationale for large-scale digitization nor on the detailed specifications for large-scale digitization workflows. Rather, it will outline the types of resources (internal and external), decision points and specific practical strategies for digital library managers seeking to start ramping up the production.