LSC 555 IS Webliography

LSC 555 IS Webliography LSC 555 Information Systems Webliography: Digital Libraries
By
Daniel Hanlon
| Digital Library Initiatives | Theory and Practice | Digital Libraries |

Digital Library Initiatives
- Digital Libraries Initiative: Phase One
  by DLI
  The initiative's focus is to improve digital libraries and the services available through them. This site is available in eight different languages, and offers information about digital libraries and links to a number of sites and articles dedicated to digital library initiatives. The site has not been updated since 1999 and has been replaced by the site below, but the links still function, and the linked sites appear to still be active and recently updated.
- Digital Libraries Initiative: Phase Two
  by IIS Division of CISE
  This is a more recent version of the above site. It features links to projects funded by the initiative, news, information about workshops, and even a glossary. The site is not well organized, however, and unlike the earlier site does not give an overview of digital libraries and the goals of the initiative. It is, however, much more current, and contains more links.
- Library of Congress co-sponsorship for National Science Foundation Digital Library Initiatives
  by Library of Congress
  This site provides a wealth of information about Phase II of the Digital Libraries Initiative. It contains background information, an overview, and information on the goals of the initiative, challenges to meeting those goals, and plans for overcoming those challenges. The site has not been updated since 1998, so current information is not included, but it is an excellent resource for learning about the initiative and its history.
- Boston College Digital Libraries Initiatives
  by Boston College University Libraries
  This site documents Boston College's plan to strengthen learning and research through the use of digital libraries. It is useful for understanding the purpose of and possibilities for digital library initiatives. The site is weak on explaining exactly how the initiatives were planned and carried out, but there is still useful information provided.
- Digital Libraries: Introduction
  by University of Arizona
  Research goals include portal building initiatives in a wide variety of domains. Includes links to a number of publications on the subject of Digital Libraries. Unfortunately, many of these articles seem too specialized for the casual user.
Theory and Practice
- Moving Theory into Practice: Digital Imaging Tutorial
  by Cornell University Library
  A tutorial for creating a digital image library. This site covers basic terminology, selection and conversion of images, quality control, metadata, infrastructure, preservation, management, and continuing education. It is, in short, an excellent source for anyone planning on creating a digital library from physical materials. It is easy to navigate, and even provides a bibliography in each section. Its one shortcoming may be that it is more of an overview than a real how-to guide.
- D-Lib Magazine
  by CNRI
  "D-Lib Magazine is a solely electronic publication with a primary focus on digital library research and development, including but not limited to new technologies, applications, and contextual social and economic issues." The magazine contains articles on a number of topics related to digital libraries. It is easily accessible, and is a good tool for researching the topic. The articles to seem to specialized, and may not be helpful to someone just getting involved with digital libraries.
- Digital Libraries: Resources and Projects
  by IFLA
  This site contains numerous links to resources related to digital libraries. The site has not been updated in over a year, but the links seem to still be functioning.
- How Much Information?
  by IFLA
  This is a link to an interesting study which attempted to determine the rate at which information is currently being created each year. The study determined that the amount of information created each year doubled between 2000 and 2003, 92% of this information was stored on magnetic media, and the US accounts for 40% of all newly stored data. This site does not deal directly with the concept of digital libraries, but provides perspective on the realities of today's world of information. The entire report is quite technical and involved, but summaries of information are provided.
Digital Libraries
- NYPL Digital Library
  by NYPL
  Provides links to the NYPL's digital libraries. Aesthetically pleasing and easy to use. The sites for each linked collection, however, have different designs and feels to them. This could lead to a confusing experience if more than one collection is visited.
- Cornell University Library: Digital Collections
  by Cornell University Library
  Includes links to varyious digital collections, including a searchable database of 21 versions of the bible in English, a collection of agricultural literature, and a database of anthropological information concerning the Himalayan region. AS with the NYPL site, The sites for each linked collection have different designs and feels to them. This could lead to a confusing experience.
- Digital Library Projects at Columbia
  by Columbia University
  Digital resources include a dictionary of South Asia and a collection of "papyri and ostraca (potsherds with incriptions) dating from the period 400 BCE to 800 CE." Again, each collection's site is organized differently. Consistency would have been preferable.
- Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library at Duke University
  by Duke University
  In addition to providing numerous links to the university's digital collections, there is also an essay on how some of the projects were digitized. The diversity of collections linked to this site makes it an excellent resource for a variety of users. The sites describing each collection are of varying quality.
- California Digital Library
  by University of California
  This site allows the user to search all of the university's digital collections at once. Unlike the other sites, this one maintains a consistency throughout, making it easier to use. This seems to be a well organized, easy to use site.
- Digital Collections (DL SUNsite)
  by University of California, Berkeley
  Contains interesting collections, including photographs, maps, books, and more. Reasonably easy to use, but inconsistent design.