Digital Resources
Digital resources give users more options. Hardcopy is often more difficult for users to access independently or to adapt to suit their particular needs. By contrast, digital resources tend to be:
- Available at any time and from outside the organisation, often through an online delivery mechanism such as a learning platform or a library catalogue and can be accessed through a number of devices;
- Highly portable;
- Capable of displaying on the user's personal technology;
- Able to provide richer, more flexible resources, which give more choice to the user.
Digital resources are also easier to find, to search, and to incorporate into new materials and can be distributed in a variety of ways. Organisations should be encouraged to help staff explore different ways of ensuring digital resources can be obtained or created for users.
As a part of the JISC Techdis Senior Management Briefings, the benefits to an organisation of encouraging staff to ensure resources are made available in digital format wherever possible, including educational library and learning resources centres are highlighted. Having policies and strategies to create this ethos within a learning provider is an essential part of becoming an inclusive organisation.
