Resources for Developing a Digital Library
By
Margo Menconi

 

| Publications | Organizations | Centers | Standards |

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• Online Publications about Digital Libraries
  • Article: Creating a framework of guidance for building good digital collections.
    Citation: Cole, T. W. (2002). Creating a framework of guidance for building good digital collections. First Monday, 7(5).

    This paper presents a framework for developing a digital library based on the principles of reusability, persistence, interoperability, verification, and documentation. These guidelines are general in nature, but provide a helpful orientation as to issues to consider in planning a digital library.

    
    
  • Article: Establishing a digital library
    Citation: Kirriemuir, J. (2001). Establishing a digital library. Ariadne, 29.

    This paper discusses issues involved in moving from possessing a few digital library projects and services to possessing an integrated digital library center. This paper is helpful from the management standpoint, because it draws out issues from existing digital libraries regarding benefits and drawbacks of having a digital library, the vision statement, funding, staffing, and relationship with the host institution.

    
    
  • Article: Assessing the need for a natural resources digital library.
    Citation: Salwasser, J., & Murray-Rust, C. (2002, Winter). Assessing the need for a natural resources digital library. Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship, 33.

    The authors discuss the process they used to assess the needs of various stakeholders for a digital library on Oregon's natural resources. Anyone interested in performing a needs assessment by surveying potential stakeholders would find this article helpful.

    
    
  • Article: Building a digital library: with comments on cooperative grant projects and the goals of a digital library.
    Citation: Peterson, E. (2001). Building a digital library: with comments on cooperative grant projects and the goals of a digital library. Library Philosophy and Practice, 3(2).

    In this article, the author describes how Montana State University was able to develop an image database of Native American peoples and incorporate training of Native American college librarians in its use. This article would be most helpful to the novice, as it describes the step-by-step process taken in developing the digital library.

    
    
  • Report: Building a Digital Library in 80 Days: The Glasgow Experience. Centre for Digital Library Research,
    Citation: Dawson, A. (2003, January). Building a Digital Library in 80 Days: The Glasgow Experience. Centre for Digital Library Research, University of Strathclyde: Glasgow.

    This article compares actual experience in building a digital library with what the literature says about the process. This is a helpful article for those setting out to establish a digital library for the first time, because it discusses such issues as collection development, user interface, information retrieval, and legal issues, for example.

    
    
  • Article: The development of digital libraries for blind and visually impaired people.
    Citation: Craven, J. (2001, December 20). The development of digital libraries for blind and visually impaired people. Ariedna, 30.

    This article combines information from a selection of papers presented at the 2001 IFLA pre-conference for the Section of Libraries for the Blind. This paper gives paragraph summaries of the various presentations at that conference. Since it only touches on issues and examples of such libraries, it could be used as a jumping off point, but it would not be sufficient by itself in resolving issues of building a digital library for this population.

    
    
  • Article: Developing a digital archive with limited resources.
    Citation: Sennema, G. (2004). Developing a digital archive with limited resources. OCLC Systems & Services : International Digital Library Perspectives, 20(2), 76-81.

    This article describes how one small college was able to develop a digital library using the digital media archive module of its library information system. Those from small libraries or organization might be interested in learning the details of how a small academic library developed a viable digital library with limited resources.

    
    
  • Manual: Digital Library Toolkit.
    Citation: Digital Library Toolkit, 3rd ed. (2003, January). Sun Microsystems

    This 151-page book takes the reader step by step through the process of developing a digital library. This resource will be helpful to both the novice and the more experienced digital librarian. This manual considers many aspects of planning a digital library, including technical options.

    
    
  • Bibliography: 6.2 Library Issues: Digital Libraries.
    6.2 Library Issues: Digital Libraries. (2004). Scholarly Electronic Publishing Bibliography, University of Houston Libraries: Houston.

    This bibliography contains references for articles and papers pertaining to several major digital libraries as well as some general resources. It is regularly updated to maintain its currency. This bibliography will be of interest to anyone wanting to research more about digital libraries.

    
    
  • Manual: The NINCH Guide to Good Practice in the Digital Representation of Cultural Heritage Materials.
    Citation: The NINCH Guide to Good Practice in the Digital Representation and Management of Cultural Heritage Materials. (2002). National Initiative for a Networked Cultural Heritage.
    

    This book provides instructions in creating a high quality digital library that has consistency and reliability, and is compatible with resources from other projects and domains. This resource deals with the major issues around digital library construction, such as rights management, audio/video capture and management, and working with others. It also includes helpful appendices, such as equipment specifications, metadata standards, and a bibliography.

   

• Helpful Organizations
  • Digital Library Foundation
    Citation: Welcome to the DLF. (n.d.). Digital Library Federation: Washington, D.C.

    "The Digital Library Federation is a consortium of libraries and related agencies that are pioneering in the use of electronic-information technologies to extend their collections ans services." This web site is a wealth of information, including research reports and resources on standards and practices, collections, and use and users, for example.

    
    
  • IEEE Technical Committee on Digital Libraries
    Citation: Welcome to TCDL. (2002, June 26). IEEE Technical Committee on Digital Libraries.

    "The goal of the Technical Committee on Digital Libraries is to promote research in the theory and practice of all aspects of Collective Memories, such as Digital Libraries, Digital Museums, and Digital Archives of all kinds." While this web site doesn't offer a lot of resources, those more heavily involved in the technical side of digital libraries should be aware of this group and might want to consider attending one of their conferences.

    
    
  • International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
    Citation: Libraries: Resources and Projects. (2003, February 20). International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.

    This web page by IFLA includes a bibliography, conferences, periodicals, organizations, and projects on digital libraries. This is a helpful resource for those wanting to know more about digital libraries and what is happening in this field.

    
    
  • Technical Advisory Services for Images
    Citation: TASI: Technical Advisory Services for Images. (2002-2004).

    TASI provides advice and guidance to the higher education community on managing "both small and large scale digitisation projects." This site has many helpful articles discussing aspects of digital library creation and management. In addition, TASI also provides consulting to higher educational institutions.

    
    

   

• Research Centers and Projects
  • Digital Library Project, University of California-Berkeley
    Citation: Re-inventing Scholarly Information Dissemination and Use. (n.d.). Digital Library Project, University of California: Berkeley, Calif.

    This web site has links to information about the project, as well as the digital collections themselves. This web site has helpful links to explanations with examples of the use of various digital library technologies. This will be helpful for the lay person as well as the more techno-savvy.

    
    
  • The Informedia Project, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University,
    Citation:Welcome to The Informedia Project! (2004, October 4). The Informedia Project, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University: Pittsburgh, Pa.

    This organization conducts research on digital libraries, often in collaboration with other organizations. Information about its research is available on this web site. The reports under the various projects might be of particular interest to those on the technical end of digital libraries. Also, the descriptions of the various projects include information about the software used to produce them, which may be helpful to some.

    
    
  • Research in Digital Libraries. Middlesex University.
    Citation: Research in Digital Libraries (RIDL). (2002). Research in Digital Libraries, Interaction Design Centre, Middlesex University.

    "RIDL conducts research on the design and use of Digital Libraries." Information on their research is available on this web site. Reports from this center's projects will be of interest to many. Research includes usability, evaluation, interaction, social factors, and meta-data design.

   

• Standards
  • METS: Metadata Encoding & Transmission Standards
    Citation: (2004, Oct. 5). METS: Metadata Encoding & Transmission Standard Official Web Site. Library of Congress: Washington. D.C.

    "The METS is a standard for encoding descriptive, administrative, and structural metadata regarding objects within a digital library." This web site provides information about the standard, tutorials, and tools. For those concerned with data retrieval, this is a must.

    
    
  • Dublin Core Metadata Initiative
    Citation: Dublin Core Metadata Initiative. (1995-2004). OCLC Research.

    "The Dublin Core Metadata Initiative is an open forum engaged in the development of interoperable online metadata standards." This is the authoritative site on Dublin Core. It provides information about the standard, as well as related projects, tools and software, and a user guide.

    
    
  • Z39.50
    Citation: Z39.50 Resource Page. (2003). National Information Standards Organization.

    "The National Information Standards Organization Z39.50 Information Retrieval Protocol...[is] a computer protocol that... defines a standard way for two computers to communicate for the purposes of information retrieval." This site contains information about Z39.50, including general information, searching with Z39.50, software, and projects. This is an essential resource for Z39.50.

    
    
  • Dublin Core Metadata Editor
    Citation: (Powell, A. (2000, Aug. 3). DC dot: Dublin Core metadata editor. UKOLN, University of Bath: Bath, Great Britain.

    "This service will retrieve a Web page and automatically generate Dublin Core metadata, either as HTML tags or as RDF/XML."This web site has information about all of the relevant standards for digital libraries, bringing them all together in one resource. It includes introductory papers and suggested readings, a fantastic subject area with well-organized links on specific aspects of digital libraries, and a helpful glossary of digital library terms.

    
    

 

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©Margo Menconi 2004
Last updated November 16, 2004