digital libraries and online repositories

a digital library is like an island of organization in the sea of the internet.

a digital library is a specialized collection with an intended audience, so it’s more structured (and structure-able) than the web.

what goes in a digital library? Anything digital: text, images, spreadsheets, sound + video, java applets, or even hyperlinks to other web sites. any resources that meet the library’s standards and are organized so that they can be easily found.

what do people do with digital libraries? Online communities share resources; large organizations manage information, small organizations support projects, and individuals publish the results of their work.

behind the scenes, a digital library relies on:

a search engine

a metadata schema that supports cataloging, searching and browsing

an architecture that supports maintenance, growth, and archiving

and, finally, a digital library includes the people who use it to support their activities in a specific field or community of interest.

processes

design options range from off-the-shelf, public-domain digital library software to custom-built, large-scale systems. creating a digital library involves:

consultation with users and stakeholders

review of resources for the collection

design of cataloging schemes and architecture

customization of software tools and templates

evaluation of the library’s effectiveness for users

you can visit the libraries of the eoe foundation, the dlese, and, coming soon, the Capacity 21 digital library of sustainable development.

to support education and development, Natoma builds digital libraries