Reviews literature on digital libraries (DLs) by examining its conceptions; concepts related to social informatics; researchers exploring DL social informatics; methods of DL design; social aspects of DL infrastructure and use; and research approaches to DL social informatics. Presents questions for further research and discusses social and…

This special section of the "Bulletin" includes an introduction and the following articles: "New Metadata Standards for Digital Resources: MODS (Metadata Object and Description Schema) and METS (Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standard)"; "Metadata Generation: Processes, People and Tools"; "Data Collection for…

Discusses the development of Electronic Library at TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute, New Delhi). Highlights include: hardware and software used; the digital library/Virtual Electronic Library; directory of Internet journals; virtual reference resources; electronic collection/Physical Electronic Library; downloaded online full-length…

Discusses the growing world of the digital library movement, describes a number of ongoing digital projects, and focuses on the Digital Library Federation (DLF), a consortium of libraries and agencies that are pioneering the use of electronic information technologies to extend collections and services. Topics include access to rare books;…

Describes how a secondary school library in Singapore created a Web portal for their new digital library. Topics include definitions of a portal versus a Web page or site; access to information; links; library services offered; and seeing things from a user's perspective rather than a librarian's perspective. (LRW)

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign undertook a project to test the efficacy of using the Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting to construct a search and discovery service focused on information resources in the domain of cultural heritage. Provides an overview of the Illinois project, with quantitative data about…

The Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD), supports the production and archiving of electronic theses and dissertations. While working with the Open Archives Initiative (OAI) to develop and test the metadata harvesting standard, the authors set up and actively maintain a central NDLTD metadata collection and multiple user…

Compares a digital reference service that uses instant messaging with traditional, face-to-face reference based on experiences at the Southern Illinois University library. Addresses differences in reference questions asked, changes in the reference transaction, student expectations, bibliographic instruction, and librarian attitudes and procedures…

Provides a framework for the design and development of an intranet model based on a consortia approach by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) digital library system that will facilitate information access and use by providing a single Web-enabled window to users to their own resources and to sources in other participating institutions.…

Discusses digital media content on the Internet and describes Souvenir, a digital media annotation tool with Web publishing and email capabilities that allows people to use handwritten notes as a personal audio/video index to retrieve and share specific media moments. Explains how it can create hyperlinks to media stored in a digital library.…

Includes five articles that discuss digital reference in elementary and secondary education; the need to understand the technological environment of digital reference; question negotiation in digital reference; a pilot study that evaluated chat reference service quality; and collaborative digital museum and digital library reference services. (LRW)

Explains the digital reference service AskNSDL that was developed for the National Science Digital Library (NSDL). Discusses tools used to design the service, including QABuilder software; QuIP (Question Interchange Profile) metadata format standard; GEM (Gateway to Educational Materials) cataloging tool; and the AskERIC question and answer…

Describes the redesign of the Web site at the virtual library of the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology). Discusses usability problems with the original site, including navigation difficulties; focus groups to determine user needs; usability testing for the new Web site; and the importance of customer input. (LRW)

Discusses results of a study that produced a preliminary sense of reference librarians' experiences in adapting reference practice to the digital environment, and described their own views about digital reference. Considers reference interviews, digital reference service quality and standards, and types of questions best suited to digital…

Explores issues related to the selection and purchase of digital content in academic libraries, including commercially-produced databases, electronic journals, and books and other electronic resources that are purchased from vendors; and in-house digitization projects. Considers the degree to which standard collection management principles apply.…