digital libraries

Digital LibrariesDigital Libraries

Jack Eapenjack@jackeapen.com

http://www.jackeapen.com

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?