Digital library collections at Library of Congress
Digital Libraries -e553
ASSIGNMENT FOR UNIT 05
Title
Why?
What?
Collection
A digital collection (or collections) is at the heart of any and all
digital libraries. No digital collection, no digital library. But the
characteristics of digital collections differ, in some aspects
even significantly, from characteristics of traditional library
collections. Even after a decade and more of discussion, the
concept of “digital collection” is still evolving; it is not settled
as yet – various interpretations are given, various
characteristics stressed. I addition, management of digital
collections involves radical changes from management of
traditional collections. Here, our aim is to explore the major
characteristics of digital collection and changes in collection
management.
Read, digest, and synthesize two articles then address the
questions below:
1. Lee, H-L. (2000). What is a collection? Journal of the
American Society for Information Science, 51(12), 11061113.
This is an Oldie (one of the classics), but lays out main &
continuing issues well. Author is a SC&I, Rutgers
graduate.
2. Brazier, C. (2013). born. digital@ british.library: The
opportunities and challenges of implementing a digital
collection development strategy. Paper presented at
IFLA World Library and Information Congress, 79th
IFLA General Conference and Assembly, 17-23 August
2013, Singapore. http://library.ifla.org/222/1/198brazier-en.pdf
For discussion of questions you may also want to consult or
peruse, but do not need to read at length:
National Information Standards Organization (NISO) (2007). A
framework of guidance for building good digital collections. 3rd ed.
http://www.niso.org/publications/rp/framework3.pdf
Questions? Based on those two readings and on perusal of the report (and
any other sources you may have consulted), please discuss:
1. What are the most significant aspects of digital
collections?
2. What are some of the problems, at least two-three
major ones, which libraries face in managing and curating
digital collections?