DOCUMENT RESUME ED 482 968 EC 309 831 Current Strategic Business Plan for the Implementation of TITLE Digital Systems. INSTITUTION Library of Congress, Washington, DC. National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. PUB DATE 2003-12-00 NOTE 245p. AVAILABLE FROM Reference Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20542. For full text: http://www.loc.gov.html. PUB TYPE Guides Non-Classroom (055) Reports Descriptive (141) EDRS PRICE EDRS Price MF01/PC10 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Computer System Design; Library Networks ABSTRACT This document presents a current strategic business plan for the implementation of digital systems and servicesfor the free national library program operated by the National LibraryService for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, its networkof cooperating regional and local libraries, and the United StatesPostal Service. The program was established in 1931 and isfunded annually by Congress. The plan will be updated and refined as supporting futurestudies are completed. (AMT) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ., . I a I a a a p , :71110i1 aafrtexpreve ..4111 AAP"- .4.011111rAPrip -"" Al MI 1111 U DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Oth of Educattonal Research and Improvement ED ATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION .a.1111PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND CENTER (ERIC) DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS IN" This document has been reproduced as BEEN GRANTED BY received from the person or organization originating it ID Minor changes have been made to BESTCOPYAVAILABLE improve reproduction quality smiMMIINi-717` Ota. k_CO114 Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES official OERI position or policy INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) Current Strategic Business Plan for the Implementation of Digital Systems BUN 094.114E 1)44144/4, doAL National Library Service for theotp Blind and Physically Handicapped r ciS The Library of Congress ogralk Z CI) itali 11) /7 Ire C> December, 2003 1-3ES f COPy 4Z(4/ U SA ($.0 0 3 8ftARYOFCal Table of Contents Executive Summary 1 Executive Council: Digital Audio Development Project 5 Section 1: Introduction and Background 7 Current system and situation 7 Digital systems 7 Long-term outlook 8 Alternative technologies considered for medium-term system 8 CD-ROM-based system 9 Magnetic hard-drive-based system 9 Flash-memory-based system 10 Medium-term plan 11 Section 2: Proposed System Operations 13 Preliminary plans for future operations 13 Digital talking book standard 13 DTB collections 13 Medium 14 Book storage and distribution 14 Hybrid model - high-circulation titles 14 Hybrid model - low-circulation titles distribution and storage 15 Digital talking book machines (DTBMs) 16 Non-digital books and machines 17 Magazines 17 Section 3: Costs for Proposed System 19 Estimation of future costs 19 NLS costs 19 NLS current operations 19 Current book production 19 Current playback machine costs 22 Total annual costs for current operations 22 Total estimated costs for future operations 22 NLS future operations 22 Distributions center(s) operations 22 Future book production 23 Future playback machine costs 24 Total estimated costs for future operations 25 Network agency costs 25 USPS costs 28 Revenues for operations 28 Table of Contents (continued) Section 4: Transition Plan 29 Rate of transition 29 Major steps in transition 29 Development of digital book master collection 29 User survey 29 Player transition study 30 Pilot tests of Internet delivery 30 Distribution medium and system study 30 DTB player and medium design contract 30 DTB container design contract 30 Distribution system design and transition planning 31 RD phase-out 31 Circulation systems design 31 Circulation systems implementation 31 Distribution system implementation 31 DTBM production 31 Reduction of CBM inventory 32 Media production 32 DTB container production 32 DTB mass duplication 32 RC mass-production phase-out 32 Weeding of RC collection 32 Weeding of DTB collection 33 Exhibit 3-1: NLS Audio Book and Machine Costs - Three Alternative Future Systems and Current Systems 20 Exhibit 3-1: Estimation of Impact of Digital System Implementation on Network Agency Costs 27 Appendix 1: Public Law 89-522 1-1 Appendix 2: Digital Talking Book Program, Key Requirements and Assumptions 2-1 Appendix 3: Specifications for the Digital Talking Book (Foreword and Overview) 3-1 Appendix 4: Planned DTB Title Production 4-1 Appendix 5: List of First 1000 Titles Selected for Conversion 5-1 Appendix 6: Flash Memory Costs, 1997-2008 6-1 Appendix 7: Life-Cycle Cost Model, FY 2002 Values 7-1 Appendix 8: Overview of Estimated Costs for Transition to a Digital Talking Book System 8-1 Appendix 9: Digital System Transition Gantt Chart 9-1 Appendix 10 : Draft Request for Proposals for Design of Digital Talking Book Player and Medium 10-1 Executive Summary This document presents a current strategic busi- of a physical object to patrons, which they will load ness plan for the implementation of digital and play in playback machines; in this regard this systems and services for the free national library plan shares some features with the distribution system program operated by the National Library Service presently employed for cassettes. NLS has investi- for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of gated three types of digital media: (1) CD-ROM; (2) Congress (NLS), its network of cooperating regional magnetic hard drive; and (3) flash memory. Based and local libraries, and the United States Postal Service upon an evaluation of the relevant technological and (USPS). The program was established in 1931 and economic characteristics of these three media types is funded annually by Congress (see appendix 1). taken in tandem with the operational environment of While there are still several important "unknowns" the program, NLS has concluded that at this time a at play that will determine the technological and flash memory-based delivery system is the best alterna- economic feasibility of implementation for alterna- tive, with one major proviso: the wholesale unit price of tive digital systemsunknowns that will be addressed flash memory must decline further before implementa- and answered in several future studiesthis document tion is economically feasible. NLS is confident that provides the details of a comprehensive strategic plan this economic threshold will be reached by FY 2008. to facilitate the conversion of the program to digital While CD-ROM and magnetic hard-drive technologies technologies. The plan will be updated and refined as are both more mature than flash memory, neither would supporting future studies are completed. support a book and machine system sufficiently reliable While analog cassette technology has been the for the application; both books and machines would be backbone of the program for many years, it is now likely to sustain damage in normal use and machines outdated in several respects and is nearing the end of in transit though the mails because of their inherent its useful life. Compared to the cassette-based system, physical characteristics (the machines have precision digital audio technology offers significant improve- parts built to fine tolerances and are extremely sensitive ments to patrons of the program, network libraries, to shock, and CDs are inherently delicate). These tech- and NLS. NLS has therefore determined to implement nological Achilles heels would result in higher media digital audio technology as the framework of the future and machine failure rates than with flash memory, lead system. Following a decade and more of research and to poorer service to patrons and extra workloads for the establishment of solid technical foundations, the network libraries, and necessitate relatively high book- actual transition to patron use of digital materials is replacement, machine-replacement, and machine-repair expected to begin in four years and require approxi- costs to NLS. mately five years to complete. NLS envisions numerous advantages, relative to NLS anticipates that, ultimately, most patrons of the the present system, from the implementation of a flash program will download digital reading materials via memory-based system. Audio reproduction quality is the Internet using a variety of broadband channels, and superior in flash memory, which will provide better store and read books and magazines on portable play- sound quality in playback; flash memory has higher back machines designed specifically for use with such a storage densities and capacities than cassettes, which delivery system. However, several major technological will provide better portability for patrons; there will and economic impediments related to the provision of be fewer items for patrons to keep track of (generally broadband Internet access to patrons of the program are one cartridge instead of several cassettes), and there expected to continue for some time. Therefore, NLS will be no need for patrons to flip a switch or turn has decided that reliance on such a delivery system the cartridge over during play. Flash memory will must be postponed until technological advances make itrequire less storage space for collections at network economically feasible. libraries. The memory cards are long-lived and can be The plan for the medium-term implementation of reused many times without loss of quality. Playback a digital system will, therefore, require