EU publications

NUMERIC

Developing a statistical framework for measuring the progress made in the digitisation of cultural materials and content: study report - Study

Publication metadata

Many different types of institution make up the cultural sector, and within this diverse universe, the “Numeric” study has attempted to establish a framework where the progress towards digitising the cultural heritage of Europe can be measured in statistical terms. This involved development and testing of the framework and the associated methodology for the collection and analysis of data on digitisation of material by libraries, archives and museums to better identify the total European digitisation effort and progress. Quantified indicators for measuring the following variables were sought:... digitisation costs, investments and funding sources; volume and growth of digitised resources, related to the analogue collections held by institutions; the characteristics of digitised outputs, including their formats and user access. The first year of the study (2007/8) was devoted to reviewing the most appropriate approach for collecting such statistics, and the second and last year (2008/9) was spent collecting data and, in the light of this experience, considering how an ongoing statistical series can be better established to monitor progress in future. The European Commission funded the study to develop a coherent and eventually comparable framework which would allow the Member States to report on and measure the status quo and progress being made in digitisation. The current study depended substantially on the cooperation of individual experts in various ministries, professional associations and directly involved in managing individual cultural institutions. In this connection, the European Commission’s Member States’ Experts Group was instrumental in nominating a national coordinator in each country. The national coordinators either directly administered the survey, or assisted in its implementation. The study has proven the practicability of collecting relevant data, but has also revealed the need for the development of better definitions and the more consistent engagement of national statistical systems in supporting their adoption.