Module 8 Digital Libraries and Open Access Lesson 2 How is a Digital Library Built? UNESCO EIPICT MODULE 8. LESSON 2 1
Why is there a need for a Digital Library? Digital libraries o Widen access to valuable information and extend services beyond the library walls o Facilitate location, search, and retrieval of resources in different formats (image, audio, video, multimedia, animation, etc.) o Preserve rare / unique collection through digitization o Contribute to research and learning through sharing of resources and expertise (e.g. theses and dissertations, teaching and learning materials) UNESCO EIPICT MODULE 8. LESSON 2 2
Activity 8.2.1. Access the following sites: o Collaborative Digitization Program: Digital Toolbox - Project Management. Questions to Ask Before Starting a Digitization Project. http://www.cdpheritage.org/digital/projectmanagement/i ndex.cfml o Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records - Digital Imaging Task Force. 2000. Digital Projects Guidelines, Version 1.3. Phoenix, Arizona. http://www.lib.az.us/digital/ Fulltext http://www.lib.az.us/digital/dig_guidelines.pdf UNESCO EIPICT MODULE 8. LESSON 2 3
More Sites NDLP Project Planning Checklist. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/techdocs/prjplan.html Peter Noerr. 2003. Digital Library Toolkit. 3rd edition. Sun Microsystems. http://www.sun.com/products-nsolutions/edu/whitepapers/digitaltoolkit.html NISO Framework Advisory Group. 2004. A Framework of Guidance for Building Good Digital Collections. 2nd ed. Bethesda, MD: National Information Standards Organization. http://www.niso.org/framework/framework2.html UNESCO EIPICT MODULE 8. LESSON 2 4
Steps in Creating Digital Libraries Define the project Prepare the project plan Implement the plan Provide services Maintain the system Monitor and evaluate the project UNESCO EIPICT MODULE 8. LESSON 2 5
Project Definition Developing a mission and vision Setting goals and objectives UNESCO EIPICT MODULE 8. LESSON 2 6
Designing the Strategy/Plan of Action Sample Action Plan Matrix Objectives Expected outcomes Resources Required/ Projected costs Person in charge Expected date of completion UNESCO EIPICT MODULE 8. LESSON 2 7
Required Resources Digital content that meets the needs of the target audience and the goals of the project Personnel with the skills needed to create, organize and manage the digital library IT infrastructure (hardware, software, connectivity) Budget allocation Support and cooperation from key stake holders Environmental scan UNESCO EIPICT MODULE 8. LESSON 2 8
Implement (1) Establish the project development life cycle o Identify tasks, strategies and procedures o Set target dates and goals (time frames and milestones) o Create timeline UNESCO EIPICT MODULE 8. LESSON 2 9
Implement (2) Select the content. Observe copyright provisions Organize the source materials Provide services Acquire and use technologies and tools specified in the plan Maintain the system Implement marketing strategies Monitor and evaluate the performance of the library UNESCO EIPICT MODULE 8. LESSON 2 10
Activity 8.2.2 Access the following sites o Dan Hazen, Jeffrey Horrell & Jan Merrill-Oldham. 1998. o o o o Selecting Research Collections for Digitization. Council on Library and Information Research. http://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/hazen/pub74.html Melissa Smith Levine. Handbook for Digital Projects: A Management Tool for Preservation and Access: V. Overview of Legal Issues for Digitization. http://www.nedcc.org/digital/v.htm M.K. Sitts, ed. 2000. Handbook for Digital Projects: A Management Tool for Preservation and Access. Andover, MASS: Northeast Document Conservation Center. http://www.nedcc.org/digital/dighome.htm. Caroline Arms. Enabling Access in Digital Libraries: A Report on a Workshop on Access Management. CLIR Reports, pub79. http://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/abstract/pub79.html UNESCO EIPICT MODULE 8. LESSON 2 11
Technology Acquire and set up the necessary IT infrastructure o Select the digital library system based on the needs and capabilities of the institution (i.e. budget, expertise) - which will be used: a commercially available system or a do-ityourself system utilizing open source software? UNESCO EIPICT MODULE 8. LESSON 2 12
Activity 8.2.3 Access the following sites: o Edward M. Corrado. 2005. The importance of open access, open source, and open standards for libraries. Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship, Spring. http://www.istl.org/05- spring/article2.html o R. Crow. 2004. A Guide to Institutional Repository Software v 3.0. Open Society Institute. http://www.soros.org/openaccess/software/ o Cornell University. Digital Imaging: Moving Theory into Practice (online tutorial). http://www.library.cornell.edu/preservation/tutorial/c ontents.html UNESCO EIPICT MODULE 8. LESSON 2 13
Metadata Standard Resource discovery metadata is an essential part of any digital resource. If resources are to be retrieved and understood in the distributed environment of the World Wide Web, they must be described in a consistent, structured manner suitable for processing by computer software. There are now many formal standards. They range from simple to rich formats, from the loosely structured to the highly structured, and from proprietary, emerging standards, to international standards. Choosing a Metadata Standard for Resource Discovery http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/qa-focus/documents/briefings/briefing- 63/briefing-63-A4.doc UNESCO EIPICT MODULE 8. LESSON 2 14
Activity 8.2.4 Visit other metadata sites o Choosing a Metadata Standard for Resource Discovery. http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/qa- focus/documents/briefings/briefing-63/briefing-63- A4.doc o Rachel Heery & Manjula Patel. 2000. Application Profiles: Mixing And Matching Metadata Schemas. Ariadne, 25, 24 September. http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue25/app-profiles/ o Sophie Felfoldi. Digital Libraries: Metadata Resources,, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. http://www.ifla.org/ii/metadata.htm o UKOLN (United Kingdom Office of Library Networking). Metadata Resources. http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/metadata/resources UNESCO EIPICT MODULE 8. LESSON 2 15
Summary Careful planning is essential in developing any digital library project The process of outlining tasks and responsibilities leads to effective implementation and management of the digital library project Maintenance and evaluation of the digital library project leads to long-term accessibility, and builds credibility and authority within the community. UNESCO EIPICT MODULE 8. LESSON 2 16