[15411] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: DIGITAL LIBRARY
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jack Kessler)
Fri Jun 4 20:01:37 2004
Date: Thu, 03 Jun 2004 15:41:32 -0700
From: Jack Kessler <kessler@WELL.COM>
In-reply-to: <BAY4-DAV5267EKRuYDl0000e627@hotmail.com>
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Reply-to: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU>
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Digital Library definition: things digital calling themselves
"libraries", plus things librarianly calling themselves "digital"...
The lack of precise definition is no barrier to development,
though. For many years some of the greatest and oldest
"libraries" have contained a variety of objects, and offered a
variety of services, far greater than offered by most.
The British Library and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, for
example, have had great collections of maps and globes and
manuscripts and much "realia", etc., for centuries. Newer
databanks, and databases, expand their offerings and services
greatly now. Restricting any of these to precise definitions, too
early in their development, would restrict that development.
So we are stuck with imprecise definition. It is no more
imprecise, however, than "libraries" always have had. Sometimes
defining a thing freezes it in time, and makes it less useful. I
would leave it a fluid and expanding concept, for now.
Jack Kessler, kessler@well.com
On Sun, 23 May 2004, Md Sirajul Islam wrote:
> Hello Everyone,
>
> As an emerging system of libraries digital libraries may become
> an option for many big libraries. However, the concept of the
> Digital Library seems not very clear. While discussing with
> many professionals I've got many different responses. I'm still
> looking for a workable definition of the term "Digital
> Library." Could anyone provide me with a precise definition of
> "digital Library"?
>
> Thank you
>
>
