CLSC Information Systems Webliography: Digital Libraries
by
Barbara Jones

 

| Definitions | Standards | Examples | Professional Resources |
|Issues & Challenges |

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• Definitions
  • Digital Library Definition:DLI2
    Site maintained by Virginia Tech University Library
    This document provides an overview of the concept of a digital library, placing it in context with the library as a whole. It explains how the digital library is an extension of the resources and services available at a traditional library. An orphan link exists in this document, otherwise it is an informative document.
    
  • Virtual Libraries: Resources and References
    Produced by MLS Students at Florida State University
    This website provides an overview of the concept of a virtual or digital library, including history of its evolution, virtual library projects, resources, and terminology related to virtual libraries. This website is designed for researchers to familiarize themselves to the concepts relating to digital libraries, however, laymen will also find this to be a useful and informative website. Last updated in 2003, newer developments in this dynamic field are absent.
  • The Scope of Digital Libraries
    Draft prepared by Barry Leiner for D-Lib Working Group on Digital Library Metrics
    This webpage provides a good, quick definition of digital libraries. Thorough, concise and well organized, this webpage is directed at both professionals and others desiring an understanding of digital libraries and their socpe. The webpage is uncluttered and to the point. Its intended use is to generate discussions regarding digital libraries.
  
  

• Standards
  • NISO Standards
    Produced by National Information Standards Organization
    This organization's website provides access to national and international standards, initiatives, resources,and current events relating to information technology standards. A link to a "quick list of standards" is partiuclarly useful. This website is well organized and designed for individuals interested in standards related to information systems and resources.
    
  • Digital Library Standards and Practices
    Produced by Digital Library Foundation
    This doucment outlines standards and best practices for digital libraries endorsed by the DLF. Links provide access to websites providing extensive information related to digital information transfer standards. This webpage lacks organization in the form of easy to access tabs or navigational frames with topical headings and has a rather bland appearance in comparison to the links to which the users are directed. Do not discount this document, however, because it contains useful information.
    
  • Dublin Core
    Produced by Dublin Core Metadata Initiative
    This webpage outlines the standard 15 elements used to describe knowledge resources. This cross domain resource identfication system is used to classify intellectual resources and provide integrated access to them. This webpage is current. The 15 elements are organized in a chart format. The electric orange heading color is hard of the viewer's eyes.
    
  • Copyright
    Maintained by the U.S Copyright Office
    This website is the official U.S. governmental website for copyright laws, information, regulations, application forms, publications and other information pertaining to copyright laws in the U.S. The website is well organized, with easy to navigate links. This website includes a link to access information in Spanish.
  
  
• Examples
  • American Memory
    Maintained by the Library of Congress
    The Library of Congress, America's National Library and the largest library in the world, provides digital access to its diverse collection of knowledge records. American Memory is just one example of a digital library. This collection highlights historical and cultural knowledge records of American history in the form of audio, video, image and text. The site is well organized, easy to navigate,and provides web plug-ins at the download site. At times the Library of Congress experiences high Internet traffic; electronic visitors are not able to access the website and must try again later.
    
  • California Digital Library
    Maintained by the University of California
    The California Digital Library (CDL) is one of the largest digital libraries in the world. The University of California is the largest research library in the world. The website provides the Universitiy of California community access to their scholarly collections, databases, electronic journals and publishing tools. The general public is permitted access to digital materials relating to California's cultural heritage. The CDL is actively engaged in producing technological solutions to improve access to digital materials. The CDL is a leader in the digital library field. The website is well organized. Images load quickly.
  • Project Gutenberg
    Maintained by ibiblio
    The oldest producer of free electronic books, Project Gutenberg provides digital access through their website. This website, aimed at all readers, has a vast collection of ebooks and etexts, many in multiple languages. The website is easy to use, provides basic and advanced search capabilities. Over 1 million books are downloaded monthly. Copyright laws limit availability of contemporary books and texts.
    
  
  
• Professional Resources
  • D-Lib Magazine
    Produced by Corporation for National Research Initiatives
    An exclusively electronic journal, this publication focuses on research and development in the digital arena. A peer reviewed journal, this periodical includes technical articles, an "in the news" section, abstracts, archives, and feature articles. The diverse nature of topics covered in this journal keep information professionals abreast of developments in their field. The technical nature of this publication may not appeal to a general audience.
    
  • DLF (Digital Library Federation)
    Operated under the umbrella of the Council of Library and Information Resources
    The DFL website, aimed primarlily at information professionals, provides resources regarding digital collections, standards, preservation, use, and building digital libraries. A list of DLF partners and allies are highlighted on the homepage with links providing easy access to these institutions. This website provides a comprehensive overview of issues facing digital libraries and is well organized in logical categories allowing for easy navigation. The constantly changing pictures on the homepage can be distracting to users.
    
  • The WWW Virtual Library
    Central Catalog maintained by the Council of the Virtual Library
    This website is excellent. A diverse collection of electronic resources (available in multiple languages) organized in a logical format includes: dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopedia, geographic resources, bibliographic resources, statistics, almanacs and more. A subject guide with brief descriptions guide users in content selection. This website was orginated by Tim Berners-Lee, creator of HTML and the Web. Contributors to the links are a collection of international volunteers who are subject experts.
  
  
• Issues & Challenges
  • The Digital Divide: How Wide and How Deep?
    by Barbara F. Schloman, PhD., AHID
    This article outlines the disparity that exists and implications resulting from the lack of access to the digital world. A webliography on digital libraries must include this concept. Librarians need not discount this article because it is a nursing journal publication. It has global implications particularly to information scientists and librarians.
  • Digital Libraries and Their Challenges
    by Daniel Greenstein
    This article provides an overview of the interrelated issues involved in providing a digital library including the following topics: architecture & sytems challenges, standards & best practices, collection development, user communities, and long term access to digital collections. The author suggests these issues and challenges belong also to the host institution and a digital library's maturity is achieved when these issues are interwoven between both institutions. This article is geared towards information specialists, while the concepts are of interest ot the general library user.
  • Digital Libraries and the Problem of the Purpose
    By David M. Levy
    This article presents the thoughtful question: What is the purpose of digital libraries in our information age and the relationship of digital libraries with traditional libraries? Appearing in the professional journal D-lib, this article has appleal to all library users who wish to consider the context of digital libraries in the traditional library framework.
  
  
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©Jones 2005