57008 Digital Libraries and Collections

Handbook description

This subject focuses on digital information resources and services and virtual collection building and management. The student is introduced to the role and functions of new and emerging technologies associated with the virtual library or digital library environment like electronic journals, electronic repositories and web-based digital information resources and services. Topics covered by this subject include virtual information system coordination and management and principles of collection building and management in electronic environments. Issues related to the development of digital information collections, such as access versus ownership, resourcing and legal issues, are also addressed.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On completion of this subject students are expected to be able to:

1. understand and apply client-centred concepts and principles in the management of traditional and digital information resources and services;
2. analyse policies, practices, and standards related to content development and management in traditional and digital environments;
3. identify and apply principles of service design for virtual information environments;
4. critically evaluate contemporary issues in information provision and their implications for content development, selection and management;
5. understand key aspects and trends of the information technology infrastructure and their implications for content development and management;
6. understand concepts critical to needs assessment and evaluation of virtual information collections, resources and services.

Contribution to graduate profile

Design professionals may be called upon to design and develop virtual collections which enable people to connect with, interact with and utilise a range of cultural and information products. Critical to this role is understanding how collections are developed and managed, and understanding contemporary issues in digital collections.

Teaching and learning strategies

Teaching and learning strategies will focus on interactive, constructive learning. Each session will provide a range of learning activities that will integrate formal input, personal and professional experiences, discussion, reflection and action. Tutorials are designed to promote informed discussion of key issues associated with the design, uses and policies of virtual information collections and services. Contribution to tutorial discussion is valued and expected. The learning experiences available in this subject include lectures, discussion, reflection, practical computer laboratory sessions, site visits and may include guest lecturers. Assignments will be individual, group, and written. Learning will be enhanced by having opportunities to develop a range of intellectual and technical abilities. Students will also actively engage with the literature of the field, both in preparation for and reflection of each session, and as part of the assessment process. UTSOnline will be used as a tool for collaboration and discussion of the issues associated with digital libraries and virtual information collections.

Content

A case study approach will be adopted, providing real world examples of virtual library management and a means by which the rapidly changing nature of the area and aspects of current practice (as detailed below) can be examined. The case study approach will establish and elucidate the underpinning theories and principles of virtual information resources, services and their management.

1. Making the virtual library happen: The historical development and key concepts of digital information service delivery; understanding clients, and the information environment, planning, organising, managing, evaluating, and resourcing. (Objective A)
2. Content management: Published or known content v. creating content, selection principles and priorities, standards and formats, preservation issues, access, cross-institutional collaboration, costing models, content development and management policies. (Objective B, E)
3. Describing and managing information: Best practice in information design, service development, interaction between content and clients, assessing client needs, interface development, metadata developments and information access. (Objective A, B, C)
4. Technology infrastructure: Matching content with appropriate technology, how the technology determines / drives / restricts / improves content and content delivery, IT issues and challenges. (Objective E)
5. Funding and resourcing: Changing resource mix, benchmarking, strategic alliances, . (Objective B)
6. Social aspects: Preservation and archiving heritage material, workflow implications, scholarly communications and ensuring access and equity (Objective D, F)
7. Research and evaluation: Recognising challenges of creating and delivering digital resources and services, client and stakeholder needs and expectations, and quality improvement. (Objectives A, F)

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Collaboratory on digital library issues

Assessment item 2: Digital library proposal and prototype (individual and group tasks)

Minimum requirements

Students are expected to read the subject outline to ensure they are familiar with the subject requirements. Since class discussion and participation in activities form an integral part of this subject, you are expected to attend, arrive punctually and actively participate in classes. If you experience difficulties meeting this requirement, please contact your lecturer. Students who have a reason for extended absence (e.g., illness) may be required to complete additional work to ensure they achieve the subject objectives.

Attendance is particularly important in this subject because it is based on a collaborative approach which involves essential workshopping and interchange of ideas. Students who attend fewer than ten classes are advised that their final work will not be assessed and that they are likely to fail the subject.

Indicative references

Specific reading will be assigned on a week-by-week basis in class. The reference list below is indicative of the texts we will be using in the course.

Andrews, J. & Law, D. (eds) 2004, Digital libraries : policy, planning, and practice, Ashgate, Burlington, VT.

Arms, W.Y. June 2005, Digital Libraries, MIT Press, viewed January 10, 2006

Atkins, D.E. et al. 2003, Revolutionizing science and engineering through cyberinfrastructure: Report of the National Science Foundation Blue-Ribbon Advisory Panel on Cyberinfrastructure, viewed 10 June 2008

Ayre, C. & Muir, A. 2004, 'The Right to Preserve: The Rights Issues of Digital Preservation', D-Lib Magazine, vol. 10, no. 3.

Barnes, S.J. (ed.) 2004, Becoming a digital library, Marcel Dekker, New York.

Bhargava, B. (ed.) 2000, Digital libraries and multimedia, Kluwer Academic, Boston.

Bishop, A.P., Van House, N.A. & Buttenfield, B.P. (eds) 2003, Digital library use : social practice in design and evaluation, MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass.

Borgman, C.L. 2000, From Gutenberg to the Global Information Infrastructure: access to information in the networked world, MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass.

Cornell University Library 2003, Moving theory into practice: digital imaging tutorial, viewed 30 May 2006.

Deegan, M. & Tanner, S. 2002, Digital futures : strategies for the information age, Neal-Schuman Publishers Inc., New York.

Fox, E.A. 2002, 'Digital libraries', Annual Review of Information Science and Technology, vol. 36, pp. 503-588. (Available e-Reserve)

Gladney, H. 2007, Preserving digital information, Springer, New York.

Hughes, L.M. 2004, Digitizing collections : strategic issues for the information manager, Facet Publishing, London.

Jones, C. 2007, Institutional repositories : content and culture in an open access environment, Chandos Publishing, Oxford, England.

Jones, W., Ahronheim, J.R. & Crawford, J. (eds) 2002, Cataloging The Web : Metadata, AACR, And MARC 21, Scarecrow Press, Lanham, Md.

Keller, M.A., Reich, V.A. & Herkovic, A.C. 2003, 'What is a library anymore, anyway?' First Monday, vol. 8, no. 5.

Larsen, R.L. & Wactlar, H. 2004, Knowledge lost in information: Report of the NSF Workshop on Research Directions for Digital Libraries, June 15-17, 2003, viewed 10 June 2008

Lesk, M. 2005, Understanding digital libraries, Elsevier, Boston.

----- 1997, Practical Digital Libraries: Books, bytes, and bucks, Morgan Kaufman Publishers, San Francisco, CA.

Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) Libraries of the Future, viewed 10 June 2008,

Liu, J. 2007, Metadata and its applications in the digital library : approaches and practices, Libraries Unlimited, Westport, CT.

Lynch, C.A. 2005, 'Where Do We Go From Here? The Next Decade for Digital Libraries', D-Lib Magazine, vol. 11, no. 7/8.

----- 2003, 'Institutional repositories: Essential infrastructure for scholarship in the digital age', ARL, vol. February, no. 226, pp. 1-7.

----- 2002, 'Digital collections, digital libraries and the digitization of cultural heritage information', First Monday, vol. 7, no. 5.

McDonald, I. 2003, Libraries : managing licences for digital resources : a practical guide, Australian Copyright Council, Redfern, NSW.

Mooney, S. 2001, 'Interoperability: Digital Rights Management and the Emerging EBook Environment', D-Lib Magazine, vol. 7, no. 1.

Pantry, S. & Griffiths, P. 2003, Creating a successful e-information service, Scarecrow Press, Lanham, Md.

Rydberg-Cox, J.A. 2005, Digital libraries and the challenges of digital humanities, Chandos, Oxford.

Sandusky, R. 2002, Digital library attributes: Framing usability research. Paper presented at the Usability workshop of JCDL 2002, viewed 10 June 2008

Sun Microsystems 2002, Digital library technology trends, viewed 10 June, 2008

Tedd, L.A. 2005, Digital libraries : principles and practice in a global environment, K.G. Saur, München.

Witten, I.H. & Bainbridge, D. 2003, How To Build A Digital Library, Morgan Kaufmann, San Francisco, Calif.

Woldering, B. 2004, 'The European Library: Integrated access to the national libraries of Europe', Ariadne, vol. 38, January 2004.