Text-Mining and Libraries: Summary of a Conversation with Publishers

As noted in the CRL report in the October, 2012, issue of The Charleston Advisor, “The growing application of text mining techniques and technologies in many fields of research has implications that are beginning to be felt by libraries.”1 Modern scientists and scholars now employ proprietary and open source software and tools to process and make sense of the oceans of content at their disposal, and the application of text mining techniques and technologies is growing in many fields of research. Recognizing the implications of this activity for academic libraries, the Center for Research Libraries recently held a webinar on the subject titled “Text Mining: Opportunities and Challenges.”2 The webinar was part of CRL’s Global Resources Forum, a set of activities, events, and resources that support informed, strategic decision-making on library investment in digital collections and services.