Ref Type: Conference Proceedings
Authors: McMillan,Gail,
Title: The digital library: Without a soul can it be a library?
Publication Full: NULL
Year: 0 Volume: NULL Issue: NULL
Start Page: NULL Other Pages: NULL
Descriptors: NULL
Abstract:
For many people "digital libraries" mean information on the Internet that is available to
them either directly or indirectly through search engines, indexes or library catalogs. While
digital libraries imply abundance, they do not necessarily connote the broad range of
services or quality resources that libraries provide. Digital libraries are perceived as being
solely mechanical or electronic, providing only online resources and lacking people serving
people. If the digital library is actually to be a library and not a soulless, heartless construct,
then it needs to evolve beyond mere storage and access to digitized information.
A library is a fusion of resources in a variety of forms, including services and people
supporting the entire life cycle of information beginning with creation, to dissemination and
use, through to preservation. A digital library works best when it is an integral part of a
library that provides its users with access to information that has been evaluated, organized,
and preserved in the most useful formats. Digital libraries and traditional libraries share
common goals and should interact as if they shared a common soul. If they do, the [digital]
library will accomplish more than it could separately and serve its users on the highest order.
Notes:
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Links: http://web.archive.org/web/20070427090903/http://www.vala.org.au/vala2000/2000pdf/McMillan.PDF
Extra Data: Melbourne
URL: NULL
Retrieved Date:January 1, 1970
Editors: NULL
Book Title: 10th Victorian Association for Library Automation Biennial Conference and Exhibition
Series Title: NULL
Publisher: NULL
Place Of Publication: NULL
Issn Isbn: NULL