This week I was invited to speak at the International Digital Publishing Forum Digital Book 2007 conference. I helped organize a panel on libraries, publishers, and search, which included Dale Flecker from Harvard University, Tom Turvey of Google, and myself. All of the presentations are quite distinct, although Dale and I both addressed some of the same themes, at different points and with different objectives. (I may be able to present Dale’s slides here in the next few days). I was not able to get Google’s slides (no surprise), but my talk in pdf and the accompanying podcast are here.

In brief, I argue that a fundamental and traditional covenant between publishers and libraries is threatening to rip and must be mended. Libraries have served as the institutions that have safeguarded the cultural heritage held in our published literature. As we move to a digital world, it is imperative that we re-initiate this core understanding of our obligations and responsibilities, and craft new norms supporting the permanent deposit of digital material in trusted repositories.

This does not mean necessarily that every library is provided digital files; perhaps a subset, such as a federation formed out of the Digital Library Federation; perhaps a mutually supported enterprise, similar to the position of Portico in the journals world; perhaps at worst only national libraries. But with the transition to digital fast upon us, we must brook no delay in our discussions.

Publishers should have many motivators to participate in this re-weaving, the foremost among them being their traditional strong allegiance and participation in enhancing social welfare. But beyond this, digital deposit could serve as an otherwise unavailable trusted escrow service for publishers, protecting them against unforeseen or accidental losses. Indeed, it is conceivable that the provision of this service could help serve as a financial support for the maintenance of digital files and the administration of the digital book repository.

Rarely for my tongue-tied self, perhaps the podcast stumbles more eloquently towards my thinking, and I welcome feedback and comment.