Large-scale impact of digital library services: Findings from a major evaluation of SCRAN

Abstract

This paper reports on an evaluation carried out on behalf of the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) of a Scottish Executive initiative to fund a year's use of a major commercial digital library service called SCRAN throughout public libraries in Scotland. The methodology used for investigating value for money aspects, content and nature of the service, users and usage patterns, the effects of intermediaries (staff in public libraries), the training of those intermediaries and project rollout is given. Conclusions are presented about SCRAN usage and user and public library staff reactions. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006.