Oxford English Dictionary in Binary

I imagine that you, good reader, know of the special place in my librarian heart that the Oxford English Dictionary holds. This happened about a year ago, as I examined common reference titles in libraries, and evaluated the OED. It's an incredible piece of work, and a very early example of what is now described as "crowdsourcing." In print, the dictionary is imposing and substantial. Sam Duncan, knowing of my interest in the OED, brought this article to my attention recently:

The Oxford English Dictionary Definitions of ‘Print’ And ‘Digital’, by Tim Carmody




The idea of having the OED exclusively in a digital format raises several questions in my mind:

• Why is it assumed that the digital format will have primacy in reference works? I see the myriad benefits of digital, or electronic, publications for books - but reference books serve a very different purpose. Basic reference needs are served by the internet - but for the level of research requiring the OED, is a digital format preferable?



• How will we as librarians grant access to an all-digital OED? Will it be something one can only use on a specific computer, or will it be licensed? Can patrons use it from library computers, or from home computers? Don't say it will be digital and offer no details.



• What of value for money? The OED is not cheap in a physical form - but you get massive, multi-volume work in exchange for your dollars. I think the physicality of the thing itself helps to justify the high expense of the OED, and this will no longer be valid if the OED is digital. Of course, it could potentially be cheaper as a licensed digital only reference work.

I suppose my central concern with this statement and idea is that there is an assumption that digital resources are always better. Shouldn't it be up to patrons and librarians which format is best for them - shouldn't there be a choice, at least?