DIGITAL LIBRARIES
17:610:553
Tefko Saracevic
tefko@scils.rutgers.edu
Michael Lesk
lesk@acm.org
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
1
Communication
 Course
web site:
http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/
~tefko/Courses/553
posted will be syllabus,
exercises, lectures, tutorials, etc.
 download, copy, print …

 Course
listserve:
lis553@scils.rutgers.edu
for emailing to the whole class
 anybody can send a message
 but only subscribers receive

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
2
Course listserve

To subscribe or unsubscribe:
Send an email to
majordomo@scils.rutgers edu
 Leave subject line empty (always
with all messages to Majordomo),
 In message:
subscribe (unsubscribe)
lis553@scils.rutgers.edu


To see who is on the list:
Email to Majordomo with the
message:
who lis553@scils.rutgers.edu
 Gets you all subscribers

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
3
RUL access
 Must
have a RUL card
 Full access from campus
computers or remotely from
home with Rutgers account
 With another ISP (e.g. AOL)
NO full access. To get it:
need to configure access by
proxy - see instructions
 need RUL card bar code as
User Name & a PIN (from RUL)
as password

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
4
Student groups

Form groups of four colleagues
(+/- 1)
each group will have a number
 work out a method for
communication, exchanges

Groups should work together
 Cooperate as to exercises
 Pick up missed instructions,
assignments from the group
 Prototype term project can be
done as a group project

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
5
Course objectives
Integrated
understanding of:
 Concepts: What are digital
libraries? Differing
conceptions & approaches
 Content: Changing nature of
collection in a digital &
networked environment
 Organization:
Representation, metadata
 Technology: Infrastructure
for digital libraries;
interoperability
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Objectives …
 Access: Alternatives in
access. Searching. Users and
user communities.
 Management:
Institutional effects;
economics; social, legal,
ethical concerns.
 Research
&
development: projects
underway nationally &
globally
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Symbolically …
Concepts


variety
Content
 Organization
metadata
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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 Technology
Networked
world
 Access
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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 Management
issues
 Research
about
Digital libraries – progress is real
& complex
but still in stage:
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Mix
 The
course is a mix of
 practice
 technology
 research
 Why
research?
 Base
for further
institutional & professional
development
 need to incorporate &
evaluate
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Topics covered
1. Overview
Theme A. Concepts
2. What is a digital
library? Networks?
Theme B. Collection
3. Collection?
4. Collection management
Theme C. Organization
4. Representation.
Metadata
5. Interoperability
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Topics (cont.)
Theme D: Technology
6. Input: Capturing. Data
handling.
7. Storage: Repositories.
Linking
8. Interaction. Search systems.
Theme E: Access
10. Services. Network access.
11. Users, usability.
12. Evaluation
Theme F:Context
13. Research projects
14. Management. Social, legal
economic issues
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Course structure
1. Lectures
2. Required readings from
bibliography with summaries
or essays - per schedule
3. Exercises
4. Discussion
(together 50% of
grade)
5. Term project (50% of
grade)
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Summaries
 Brief
critical review
 Relate to (points added for this):
relevant personal, professional
experiences with library &
information services; examples
 translation/implication for practice
 questions for discussion, and/or
 other readings, topics, courses,
project, exercises

Follow APA format
 MUST have prescribed heading

(points deducted if not)
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Essays
A
short synthesis related
to a question
 Based on readings,
exercises, experiences
 And own opinions,
judgments
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Exercises
 Designed
for practical
experiences
 Examination
of various
features of digital libraries
and related areas, work, or
institutions
 Technology exercises
 Homework
exercises as per
schedule
 Work cooperatively in
groups - can be group
reports, as indicated
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Term project

Choice of:

critical evaluation & comparison
of digital libraries, research, issues


design or proposal for a digital
library or service, or aspect


final product: report
final product: design document
digital library prototype for a small
digital library or function
this one can be a group project
 final product prototype & description
 examples from last year on the class Web
site


Requires a proposal, interim
report, and final report/result

per schedule
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Term project ...
 Designed
for a student to
 get
into depth on a chosen
topic
 gain practical experiences
 gain background
knowledge and
competencies
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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D-Lib Edu
 Along,
we are building a
general educational resource
at course web site:
D-Lib Edu
Resources for education in digital libraries
 Will
be used in course &
offered generally
 You are invited to
participate

could be a term project for a
group
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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What will the
course NOT do?
 Create
professional digital or
systems librarians out of you
 Make you an expert on
digital libraries & networks
 Get you to become a tech
whiz
technology is a problem of both
background and coverage here
 should also be picked at other
courses and on own

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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What will the
course DO?

Provide you with a practical &
theoretical foundation and
framework on basis of which
you can then:
start your development toward a
professional with expertise in
digital libraries
 grow & evolve with the field
 adjust to inevitable changes in
the world of digital libraries
 eventually, depending on your
other courses & life-long
learning, become an expert

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Challenging?
 You
bet!
 But also highly rewarding
AND
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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