Exploring Digital Libraries: Foundations, Practice, Prospects
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- Description
- Table of Contents
- About the author
- Reviews
"This book provides an overview of the digital turn in libraries. It is informed by the rich and varied professional experience of its author, by extensive research across several national and international contexts, and by a rare synthesizing ability. It fills a clear gap in the library literature, exploring technical and research developments from the perspective of evolving library services and organization."
--Lorcan Dempsey
Calhoun's textbook is a highly readable, thought-provoking authoritative and in-depth treatment of the digital library arena. It provides an up-to-date overview of the progress, nature and future impact of digital libraries, from their collections and technology-centered foundations over two decades ago to their emergent, community-centered engagement with the social web. This landmark text
- Brings students and working librarians up to date on the progress, nature and impact of digital libraries, bridging the gap since the publication of the best-known digital library texts
- Frames digital library research and practice in the context of the social web and makes the case for moving beyond collections to a new emphasis on libraries' value to their communities
- Introduces several new frameworks and novel syntheses that elucidate digital library themes, suggest strategic directions, and break new ground in the digital library literature
- Calls attention to digital library research, but is written from the perspective of strategy and in-depth experience
- Provides a global perspective and integrates material from many sources in one place - the chapters on open repositories and hybrid libraries draw together past, present and prospective work in a way that is unique in the literature
Exploring Digital Libraries suits the needs of a range of readers, from working librarians and library leaders to LIS students and educators, or anyone who wants a highly readable and thought-provoking overview of the field and its importance to the future of libraries.
1. Emergence and definitions of digital libraries Overview The emergence of digital libraries (1991-2001) Early digital-library projects Definitions of digital libraries Conclusion 2. Outcomes of digital libraries' first decade Overview A new field of research and practice The transformation of scholarly communication processes Technical innovations Digitization and digital preservation Metadata and standards Working digital libraries Conclusion References to websites in Table 2.1 3. Key themes and challenges in digital libraries Overview The key themes of digital library work Key challenges Conclusion 4. Digital Library Collections: Repositories Overview The traditional library worldview Repositories, libraries and the web The evolution of digital library repositories Conclusion 5. Hybrid Libraries Overview Changing information-seeking behaviors Libraries' response: changing hybrid library collections Changing technologies for hybrid libraries Conclusion 6. Social Roles of Digital Libraries Overview Introduction Foundations of digital libraries' social roles A possible framework of social roles Conclusion 7. Digital Libraries and their Communities Overview Approach Successful, sustainable digital libraries Inception: Purpose and focus Inception: Branding and awareness Creation: Community and needs orientation Creation: User-centered design, ease of use and reliability Growth: Quality content Maturity: Funding and sustainability Conclusion 8. The Prospects of Open Access Repositories Overview Successful subject-based repositories The value of institutional repositories The policy and legal frameworks Deposit mandates Other issues with self-archiving ‘Google has won' Making institutional repositories more valuable Future of repositories Conclusion 9. Digital Libraries and the Social Web: Scholarship Overview Introduction Background: Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 What is the social web? Digital libraries and the social web Digital libraries' social evolution: a visual framework Scholarship From personalization to collaboration Scholarly collaboration on the social web Conclusion 10. Digital Libraries and the Social Web: Collections and Platforms Overview Visualizing the shift from collections to platforms The dilemma of the national or local collections focus Optimizing the reach and visibility of digital libraries Mass digitization and digital libraries Large-scale digital libraries, portals and platforms Crowdsourcing and citizen science Conclusion
"Unlike anything that has come before. This is because it comes from the perspective of a practitioner ... I would imagine that this will be required reading in library schools for many years to come."--The Digital Shift
"[Calhoun] merges the disparate worlds of computer science and library science together in a masterful way. She uses the history to create a robust platform for understanding digital libraries today … in essence making the field feel relevant and refreshed."--R. David Lankes
"From the ‘cloud’ to ‘community,’ and from the ‘mass digitization’ to the ‘digital divide,’ Calhoun has meticulously covered everything the reader needs to know … This is a book by a librarian for other librarians, and that really is what makes this book stand out. This is a must-have reference for the library, and it will be especially helpful to those librarians looking to understand where the digital library has been, where it stands now, where it may be going, and how we, as librarians, can most effectively employ digital libraries for our communities."
— VOYA
”Readers will want to consult this text several times for the detailed citations, informative tables, and graphics … In this book [Calhoun] combines her extensive knowledge and research to offer an important resource for the library and archives communities to think innovatively about the role digital libraries have on society so they can be sustainable into the future."
— Technical Services Quarterly
”Well-organized and timely … a thorough examination of the past, present, and future prospects of digital libraries, and I recommend it to students, scholars, and practicing librarians."
— Portal: Libraries and the Academy
”Because the book is packed with so many topics, it allows the reader to learn about areas that are often glossed over in the daily running of a library ... This really is a must read for those working in the digital library environment and for those who wish to explore digital library concepts further."
— Online Information Review
”Extremely informative and well researched. There is a vast amount of information condensed into its 322 pages. This book would be a valuable read for any librarian, archivist, or information technology professional who is working with or has an interest in digital collections."
— Technicalities