digital libraries
DESCRIPTION
This is an old presentation by me created in 2004 about Digital LibrariesTRANSCRIPT
A Brief OverviewA Brief Overview
DL- Some DefinitionsBenefits& Limitations of DLEmerging Technologies& StandardsTools AvailableA Model DL for IndiaPlanning a DL ProjectChallenges in DL Environment
DL- Some DefinitionsDL- Some Definitions
In simple terms, a digital library is a collection of information that is stored and accessed electronically. Terms such as "electronic library" and "virtual library“ are often used synonymously.
"The generic name for federated structures that provide humans both intellectual and physical access to the huge and growing worldwide networks of information encoded in multimedia digital formats."
---The University of Michigan Digital Library
DL- Some DefinitionsDL- Some Definitions
Sun Microsystems defines a digital library as the electronic extension of functions users typically perform and the resources they access in a traditional library
The Digital Library Federation (DLF) crafted the following definition: Digital libraries are organizations that provide the resources, including the specialized staff, to select, structure, offer intellectual access to, interpret, distribute, preserve the integrity of, and ensure the persistence over time of collections of digital works so that they are readily and economically available for use by a defined community or set of communities.
DL vs TLDL vs TL
Benefits of DLBenefits of DL
DL brings the library to the user Improved access - Searching and browsing Information can be shared more easilyEasier to keep information current Information is always available
Benefits of DLBenefits of DL
New forms of information become possible
Wider access
Allow collaboration and exchange of ideas
DLs may save money
Improved preservation
Limitations of DLLimitations of DL
Technological obsolescenceHardware
Software
Cost of content refreshing
Rights management
Inter-operability
Network bandwidth
Functional Components of DLFunctional Components of DL
Architecture of a DLArchitecture of a DL
Digital ObjectsDigital Objects
Digital ObjectsDigital Objects
Type of Digital ObjectsText Image Animation Sound Video
File Formats for DOFile Formats for DO
TextASCI I Native Application FormatHTML/XMLPDF
File Formats for DOFile Formats for DO
ImageBMPJPEGPNGGIFTIFF
File Formats for DOFile Formats for DO
AudioMIDIWAVMP3RAM/RA
File Formats for DOFile Formats for DO
Video
AVIQuick Time (mov/qt)MPEG/MPG
Emerging TechnologiesEmerging Technologies& &
StandardsStandards
Uniform Resource NamesUniform Resource Names
Any form of Uniform Resource Name (URN) has three properties: 1.Location independence -- not tied to a
particular computer
2.Persistence -- long-term validity
3.Global uniqueness
Uniform Resource NamesUniform Resource Names
Handle System by CNRIDOIs by DOI FoundationPURL by OCLC
Resolution of URNsResolution of URNsPURL
http://purl.oclc.org/net/jack
URL
http://www.jackeapen.org
PURL Server
DNS Server
Resource ServerClient Browser
Resolution of HandlesResolution of Handles
UnicodeUnicode
Unicode Standard is a character coding system designed to support the worldwide interchange, processing, and display of the written texts of the diverse languages
Unicode provides a unique number for every character
Unicode enables a single software product or a single website to be targeted across multiple platforms, languages and countries without re-engineering
MetadataMetadata
Metadata contains information about objects (files, images, etc.)
A metadata record consists of a set of attributes or elements necessary to describe a particular resource
Metadata allows search engines to find and classify resources
Types of MetadataTypes of Metadata
Descriptive– Purpose: Resource discovery and identification– Ex.: Title, abstract, author, URL, keyword, etc
Administrative& Rights management– Purpose: help manage a resource– Ex.: Who created and when, who can access, content format, rights information, etc.
Structural Metadata– Purpose: Document structure– Ex.: chapter, section, paragraph
Dublin Core Metadata Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI)Initiative (DCMI)
International standard for describing network
digital resources, conceived in 1994 Consists of 15 elements, each repeatable,
none mandatory Has reached standard status – W3C, NISO,
ISO Widely used in several projects around the
world Being refined further
Dublin Core Metadata Dublin Core Metadata Element SetsElement Sets
Resource Type
Format
Resource Identifier
Source
Language
Relation
Coverage
Rights Management
Title
Author/Creator
Subject/ Keywords
Description
Publisher
Other Contributor
Date
Key Features of DCKey Features of DC
•Small and simple element set
•Non-specialists can create metadata records
•Enable effective search and retrieval
• Commonly understood semantics
•DC element set in several languages
•Extensibility
•DC record can be embedded in the resource itself (e.g. “Meta” tag of HTML)
• DC elements may be contained in a record separate from the source
Open Archives Initiative Protocol Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting for Metadata Harvesting
•OAI-PMH is a lightweight harvesting protocol for sharing metadata between services
•The OAI-PMH gives a simple technical option for data providers to make their metadata available to services, based on the open standards HTTP and XML
•world-wide consolidation of scholarly archives
•free access to the archives (at least: metadata)
•consistent interfaces for archives and service provider
•low barrier protocol / effortless implementation (e.g., because based on HTTP, XML, DC)
OAI-PMHOAI-PMHBasic Functioning Basic Functioning
Tools AvailableTools Available
D SpaceD Space
Developed by MIT Libraries and HP Institutional Repository model Support for a Variety of Digital Formats and Content
Types Digital Preservation
Access Control Open Source Software
D SpaceD Space
UNIX-like OS-
Java 1.3 or later
JavaBeans Activation Framework
Java Servlet 2.3 and JSP 1.2
Java Servlet Container/Application Server (eg. Tomcat)
Apache 1.3
Ant 1.5
PostgreSQL 7.3+
GreenstoneGreenstone
Developed by the New Zealand Digital Library Project at the University of Waikato
Runs on various platforms Highly customizable Collections can be exported to CD ROMs Requires Apache and Perl Open Source
EprintsEprints
Developed at the University of Southampton Creates online archives of the research
output of an academic institution Supports variety of document formats Submitted papers go through a moderation
process (if administrators desire) Requires LAMP architecture
A Model Digital LibraryA Model Digital Library
Perpetual repository of human knowledgePreserves national heritageProtects national wealthEnable learning activitiesDecrease information gapDevelop model tools and practices
Planning a DL ProjectPlanning a DL ProjectDefine need, purpose and user community
Select and analyze source material
Determine digital library collection requirements and features
Plan approach to digitization and collection release
Determine resource requirements for project implementation
Prepare implementation steps and timeline
Challenges in DL EnvironmentChallenges in DL Environment
Develop improved technology for digitizing analog materials
Design search and retrieval tools that compensate for abbreviated or incomplete cataloging or descriptive information.
Design tools that facilitate the enhancement of cataloging or descriptive information by incorporating the contributions of users.
Establish protocols and standards to facilitate the assembly of distributed digital libraries.
Address legal concerns associated with access, copying, and dissemination of physical and digital materials
Challenges in DL EnvironmentChallenges in DL Environment
Integrate access to both digital and physical materials Develop approaches that can present heterogeneous
resources in a coherent way Make the digital library useful to different
communities of users and for different purposes Provide more efficient and more flexible tools for
transforming digital content to suit the needs of end-users.
Develop economic models for the support of the Digital Library
Questions?Questions?