Reference and Information Service Section Conference and Exhibition 6-8 September 1999, Sydney Hilton, Australia

From Digitisation to Publishing: Using SIN as a Case Study.

The Southern Information Network (SIN), comprising the public libraries and schools from Melbourne bayside suburbs, set about the process of making historically important material available electronically to the region. The SIN committee originally set out on a digitising project as a preservation and storage option for identified material. However, it quickly became apparent that the project could expand into a commercially viable and professionally published title. A collaboration was formed between SIN and RMIT Publishing who provided the electronic publishing expertise for the project.

This paper explores the issues associated with moving beyond ‘digitisation’ to electronic publishing. It examines issues associated with collection selection and identification, copyright issues, interface design, digitising issues and marketing. If you are exploring the digitising process for preservation or information access, this paper will provide some insights based on our SINful experience.

Paul Mercieca, Publishing and Consultancy Manager, RMIT Publishing & Brendan Fitzgerald,, Information Services Manager, Bayside Library Service.