Introduction To Digital Libraries

"This books presents a holistic view of the new digital library scene ... it is an essential guide to good digital practice and techniques" - back cover.

The emergence of the Internet and the wide availability of affordable computing equipment have created tremendous interest in digital libraries and electronic publishing. This book is the first to provide an integrated overview of the field, including a historical perspective, the state of the art, and current research. The term "digital libraries" covers the creation and distribution of all types of information over networks, ranging from converted historical materials to kinds of information that have no analogues in the physical world. In some ways digital libraries and traditional libraries are very different, yet in other ways they are remarkably similar. People still create information that has to be organized, stored, and distributed, and they still need to find and use information that others have created. An underlying theme of this book is that no aspect of digital libraries can be understood in isolation or without attention to the needs of the people who create and use information. Although the book covers a wide range of technical, economic, social, and organizational topics, the focus is on the actual working components of a digital library.

Discover Digital Libraries: Theory and Practice is a book that integrates both research and practice concerning digital library development, use, preservation, and evaluation. The combination of current research and practical guidelines is a unique strength of this book. The authors bring in-depth expertise on different digital library issues and synthesize theoretical and practical perspectives relevant to researchers, practitioners, and students. The book presents a comprehensive overview of the different approaches and tools for digital library development, including discussions of the social and legal issues associated with digital libraries. Readers will find current research and the best practices of digital libraries, providing both US and international perspectives on the development of digital libraries and their components, including collection, digitization, metadata, interface design, sustainability, preservation, retrieval, and evaluation of digital libraries. Offers an overview of digital libraries and the conceptual and practical understanding of digital libraries Presents the lifecycle of digital library design, use, preservation and evaluation, including collection development, digitization of static and multimedia resources, metadata, digital library development and interface design, digital information searching, digital preservation, and digital library evaluation Synthesizes current research and the best practices of digital libraries, providing both US and international perspectives on the development of digital libraries Introduces new developments in the area of digital libraries, such as large-scale digital libraries, social media applications in digital libraries, multilingual digital libraries, digital curation, linked data, rapid capture, guidelines for the digitization of multimedia resources Highlights the impact, challenges, suggestions for overcoming these challenges, and trends of present and future development of digital libraries Offers a comprehensive bibliography for each chapter

Essential facts, advice, lists, documents, guidelines, lore, wit, and wisdom: Along with fun and irreverence, it's what readers have come to expect from the "Whole Library" series. In a one-volume compendium that's by turns encyclopedic, useful, and engaging, this latest entry provides an overview of digital libraries, covering the state of information, issues, customers, challenges, tools and technology, preservation, and the future. From blogs to Wikis, highlights include: digitization project planning tips and tools; the value proposition of the digital library; lists of Internet libraries, libraries that I.M., libraries that podcast; and interpretations of NextGen demographic data. Collecting insights from library luminaries as well the perspectives of interesting experts from outside the ranks of library professionals, "The Whole Digital Library Handbook" decodes the jargon and cuts to the chase.

Digital Libraries: Policy, Planning and Practice brings together a wealth of international experience in the planning and implementation of digital and hybrid library projects, providing a stimulating and informative handbook and reference for library staff and information managers. It consists of chapters contributed by leading specialists from Europe, North America, South Africa and the Middle East, who offer their insight into the decision-making processes that have shaped a variety of different digitization programmes. Beginning with introductory overviews of the digital library context, the US Digital Library Program and the UK e-lib and hybrid library programmes, Digital Libraries then divides into two main sections on policy and planning, and implementation and practice. The first explores concerns such as financial and resource planning, digitized compared to born-digital content and related service issues, open access to scholarly research archives, policies for and against preservation and their justification, and evaluating electronic information services. The second section is based on case studies on major European and North American digital library projects, including the Glasgow Digital Library, UCEEL (University of Central England Electronic Library), the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (discussed in the context of five international projects), the Indiana University music Variations and Variations2 Project, and the beginnings of the Library of Congress digital program and its integration into core library services. The concluding chapter discusses the way forward for digital libraries in the context of experiences at Tilburg University library, and possible enabling or limiting factors in the future. The result of drawing together these varied and illuminating experiences is a book that offers useful information and comparisons for all digital library project staff, institutional administrators, educators and developers of learning technology. It also provides useful pointers for researchers and project staff involved in archive and museum projects, as well as introducing students to the key ingredients of successful digital libraries.

Digital libraries are now a reality and yet their implementation and use is still not at an optimum. This text examines the various options for setting up digital libraries from digitising information in the first place to providing the interface to access the information held by the digital global library.

An unparalleled overview of current design considerations for your digital library! Digital Libraries: Philosophies, Technical Design Considerations, and Example Scenarios is a balanced overview of public services, collection development, administration, and systems support, for digital libraries, with advice on adopting the latest technologies that appear on the scene. As a professional in the library and information science field, you will benefit from this special issue that serves as an overview of selected directions, trends, possibilities, limitations, enhancements, design principals, and ongoing projects for integrated library and information systems. In Digital Libraries, you will discover the latest ideas and research on digitizing and distributing online library material, including information on: organization and administration of new digital library facilities collection development in digital libraries technological infrastructures for seamlessly integrated computer databases over the Internet XML and other new standards for displaying data on the web interface design issues in the search environment object oriented interfaces and improved searching possibilities a brief history of patents on the internet Digital Libraries is a working reference for your digital library-specific problems. Split into three related sections: Philosophies, Technical Design Considerations, and Example Scenarios, Digital Libraries addresses the many complexities and new issues that have evolved with the development of digital libraries and their future technologies. You will gain a thorough understanding of the public service and design considerations that are necessary to take your digital library into the 21st century.

In the last decade library collections have rapidly evolved from a predominance of print books and journals to an ever growing mix of digital and print resources. Library patrons are predominately served by support staff that is expected to know how to help patrons select and use digital resources. Yet most library support staff (LSS) has not had training to become proficient in finding, using, and instructing others in the abundance of the digital resources of websites, databases, e-texts, digital libraries and their related technologies. Library Technology and Digital Resources: An Introduction for Support Staff is both a text for professors who teach in library support staff programs and an introductory reference manual for support staff who work in libraries. This book will guide the LSS to be able to: Distinguish key features and enhancements found among vendors and providers of digital libraries, digital collections, databases, and e-texts; Plan, budget, fund and write grants for digital resources; Understand the complexity and options of licensing and usage agreements for digital resources; Know copyright permissions and acceptable use guidelines for digital resources. Understand the basic technologies that support library digital resources including network structures, software applications, and protocols; Distinguish between directories and search engines as they relate to digital resources as well as be able to employ advance search skills effectively; Explore the resources of global, national, and state digital libraries and their collections; Use government databases and other digitized systems and information sources; Find exemplary digital resources though other agencies such as museums, university collections and other sources that librarians can share with patrons. Create local digital resources of primary and historical materials and artifacts with metadata and cataloging for searchable access. Interpret meaning from library digital resources using visual literacy skills. Promote library digital resources through a variety of means including social media and online options.