1. A general course in digital libraries: A case study Tefko Saracevic, PhD School of Communication, Information & Library Studies Rutgers University, USA http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~tefko/ 1 ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic

2. Table of Content Purpose; dilemmas; What is a digital library? Why teach a general course in digital libraries? – rationale for course & topics What to teach in such a course? – content for course & topics How to teach such a course? - methods Experiences Generalizations, conclusions, challenges ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 2

3. This is an open source course All the materials – lectures, assignments, exercises, discussions – are freely available at http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~tefko/Courses/e553/index.htm This paper & lecture at http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~tefko/articles.htm http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~tefko/articles.htm following Creative CommonsCreative Commons 3 ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic

4. Purpose of the paper by concentrating on description of a specific course at a given institution ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 4 To suggest a range of topics for general digital library courses in contemporary & ever changing digital environments

5. Dilemma? Digital libraries (DL) are –relatively new in comparison to brick & mortar (B&M) libraries –but explosive growth in many areas in and out of libraries B&M library education well established –digital library education is not yet –but need is growing to educate competent DL professionals & for ALL librarians to know about dig libraries ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 5

6. What is the dilemma ? Why? The rationale why do we want to teach the given course? Or a given topics within the course? What? What topics do we want to teach in the course? Or within a topic what do we want to teach? What topics we do NOT want to teach? How? How will we go about teaching the course? Or given topics? Given that we want to have a general, introductory course in digital libraries ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 6 These are three classic questions for any course and every topic in a course

7. What is a digital library? Technological perspective: distributed & organized knowledge resources in digital formats how to collect, store, organize, diverse types of information - texts, images, sounds, multimedia … Institutional perspective: select, structure, offer intellectual access to, interpret, distribute, preserve the integrity of, and ensure the persistence over time of collections of digital works so that they are readily and economically available for use ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 7 Differing conceptions, perspectives = differing approaches, concerns, implementations

8. Differing perspectives = different education Technological: Infrastructure Oriented toward technological aspects – hardware, software, networks - needed to develop & run digital libraries, with all kinds of media & distributed Mostly centered around computer science BUT librarians have to know a lot about it Institutional Contents & structure Oriented toward mission of given institutions Concentrates on operations, service logical extension of libraries, museums … Content, collection, access centered - various types of materials, digitization, preservation ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 8

9. In this course, as in library & information science education Technological issues: To some extend treated in LIS education – but most students need basics to follow up Other courses address technology, thus only lightly treated here Trend: separation of technological from institutional components Institutional issues: Integration between print and digital mixing new digital technology with print, local with global; managing diverse resources - all difficult Competition for scarce resources sharpening Cultural & social adjustments not easy ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 9 In this course Other courses

10. Course objectives; themes A.Concepts: What are digital libraries? Differing conceptions, approaches and implementations. Evolution and stakeholders. B.Content : Changing nature of collections and resources in digital environments. Digitization. C.Organization : Representation of digital library content; metadata. D.Services: Alternatives in access to digital libraries. User communities and use. Evaluation. E.Research & development: Research and developmental projects and initiatives in various fields. F.Context: Institutional effects. Management. Social, economic, ethical, and legal concerns. ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 10

11. Organization in topics A.Concepts: B.Content : ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 11 1. What is a digital library? 2. History & predecessors 3. Keeping up with advances in dig libraries 4. Diversity of digital libraries 5. What is a collection in digital libraries?

12. topics … C. Organization : D. Services ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 12 6. Representation of information. Metadata 8. Services. Access & use. 9. Evaluation of services. Criteria & methods 7. Digitization – processes & standards

13. topics … E. Research & development : F. Context ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 13 10. Research and/in digital libraries 14. Trends. Projections in the future 12. Economic issues in digital libraries 13. Legal issues in digital libraries 11. Preservation efforts & approaches

14. Why? No simple answer - not a matter of definition but rather one of conception. Several constituencies interested in digital libraries developed differing conceptions of what is encompassed. Different stakeholders emphasized different stakes. Digital libraries are evolving. What? What are some of the conceptions of digital libraries and where did they come from? How do they differ and relate? Distinction between approaches to digital libraries in research, in technology & institutional settings Basic structure and content of digital libraries ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 14 1. What is a digital library?

15. Why? Libraries were always connected with technology from ancient clay tablets to modern information and communication technology. From this historical perspective, digital libraries are a further evolutionary and even revolutionary step in library implementations and services. What? Starts with a series of illustrations that show historical connection between libraries and technology, ending in present digital technology. Continues with examination of some pioneering ideas and people that affected development of digital libraries ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 15 2. History & predecessors

16. Why? Everything about digital libraries changes quite rapidly – practices, structures, configurations, processes, research results A professional in order to be and remain a professional has to keep up with relevant information and advances. So do students. What? A list of information sources, both online and print, classified according to their nature. Links are provided in the lecture for further examination and pursuit. ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 16 3. Keeping up with advances in dig libraries

17. Why? Digital libraries come not only from libraries (be they academic, public, national, special …), but from many other institutions & subjects not at all connected with a given library as an institution. They have a great variety of content; many are oriented toward specific subjects. Most importantly: they are used by a variety of users & for a variety of uses. What? A survey of various types of digital libraries: National libraries Academic libraries Public libraries Borne digital libraries Museums Subject resources DLibs in societies, organizations Books on the Web Web archives ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 17 4. Diversity of digital libraries

18. Why? The concept of what constitutes a collection in the networked environment is undergoing a transformation from the age-old concept of library collection signified by ownership. A new concept of a digital collection is evolving incorporating adaptations of many old features & standards, & creation of many brand new ones. What? Forces shaping differing collection concepts in digital environments Broadening concepts of collections Management of digital collections Selection criteria Contemporary issues with digital collections ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 18 5. What is a collection in digital libraries?

19. Why? A prerequisite for effective searching and handling of digital resources is effective organization and representation of data or content in a way that machines can recognize what is what and then act accordingly. Enter metadata as a solution - a standardized description of what a text or any object is all about. What? Importance of metadata in two environments: library and the Web. Precursors of contemporary developments in metadata Specification of standards for metadata Examples of standards in several domains Metadata projects Application problems Ultimate idea: The semantic web. ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 19 6. Representation of information. Metadata

20. Why? In a technical sense, digitization is the process of creating a digital image from an information object – text, picture, sound …. But in a broader sense, digitization involves a number of other processes & a host of decisions related to these processes. The aim is to explore digitization in this broader context. What? A number of decisions that have to be made in selection of object to digitize criteria and constrains in selection, including legal requirements determination of standards for scanning scanning technology & process quality control of scanned objects, and posting for use. ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 20 7. Digitization – processes & standards

21. Why? Ultimately, digital libraries exist to provide services. Digital libraries may be and have been viewed as extensions & augmentations of physical libraries. But, because of technology involved, they also provide a number of additional functionalities, which translate into additional & different services. What? Comparing functions and services of physical with those of digital libraries. Examining services unique to digital libraries. Considering access as a major service, including numerous components. Exploring visions for digital libraries in general – as they translate into services. ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 21 8. Services. Access & use.

22. Why? Evaluation is an essential process in finding how digital libraries performed, how user reacted, and what are issues or problems in their usability. In digital libraries criteria are not standardized. Thus, evaluation presents a formidable problem not only in carrying it out, but even in formulating what & how is to be evaluated. What? Considering evaluation as assessment of performance (effectiveness, efficiency) of digital libraries. Particularly problematic in evaluation is determination and selection of criteria & methodologies to be used as a base for evaluation. The pragmatics of actually conducting evaluation is addressed. ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 22 9. Evaluation of services. Criteria & methods

23. Why? Digital libraries present a formidable set of problems for research to establish an effective alliance between modern technology and use of libraries containing human knowledge records. This goal is often expressed as “Connecting people, information and technology.” As in many other fields, DL practice & research have to be connected for progress in both. What? Considering research in digital libraries from differing perspectives. Up to now, we were primarily oriented toward addressing digital library progress and issues from a library perspective. Another perspective, mostly coming from computer science is examined. ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 23 10. Research in digital libraries

24. Why? As it turns out, digital medium provides the widest possible access to human knowledge records in history & at the same time has the least lasting rate. It perishes easily and fast; often it exists only fleetingly. Preserving digital records has become a major problem for digital libraries – from small to big ones, from public to national. What? Preservation has many dimensions, some include compatibility between media and technology, others refer to economic and physical sustainability, & still others to storage and access over time. Examination of a variety of dimensions of digital library preservation & major projects aimed at preservation. ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 24 11. Preservation efforts & approaches

25. Why? For a long time, economics of publishing & of libraries has been set. Now these old models are changing. Digital resources changed radically economic exchange relations and consideration of value. New economic models have not been settled yet, they are still evolving, for libraries, publishers, users, and use. What? Explore new economic models evolving in relation to digital library operations that are quite different from traditional library economic models. Explore new economic models of publishing, or more precisely digital publishing. Consider the interaction between the two. Critical economic issues facing digital libraries. ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 25 12. Economic issues in digital libraries

26. Why? The Internet & digital resources provide a big challenge to consideration of copyright, fair use, & a host of other legal aspects, such as rights management. Laws & legal decisions in many countries grappled with them. Digital libraries are affected: there is a legal limit on how certain digital content can be handled, used & managed & how access is provided. What? Explore the legal framework of digital library management, access, and use; and In a broader vain, explore some of the new legal challenges and conflicts in the digital and Internet realm. ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 26 13. Legal issues in digital libraries

27. Why? Digital libraries are affected by trends in their broader and more immediate environments. By trend it is not meant here to guess or prophesize a future, but to survey and follow some general tendencies and directions that are readily observable. What? Survey effects on digital libraries of trends in: 1. digital information in general proliferation of digital information changes in role of d-information increased competition new services measuring, justification 2. specific changes in their: immediate institutional or community environment users & use technology developments legal, policy and political contexts. ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 27 14. Trends. Projections in the future

28. How? Methods Associated with each topic are four components: lecture, assignment, exercise, discussion. Lectures provide an overview of the topic, raise critical issues, and provide links to sites as examples. Assignments consist of readings, & then a synthesis of the main points & a critical essay type of discussion of given questions. Exercises provide some hand-on experiences as related to the topic. Discussions revolve around questions raised by instructor or students. ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 28

29. Term project A term project is large, independent and term-long. The purpose of the project is for students to gain considerable knowledge and competencies in the selected topic. Choice of three kinds of projects: 1.A comprehensive, critical evaluation and comparison of a number of digital libraries or digital library projects 2.A design proposal for a digital library for a defined constituency or for a specific digital library project, topic or service. 3.An implementation of a digital library prototype for a small digital library, or a specific DL function ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 29

30. Deriving generalizations Suggest here a model of digital libraries based on users & use All users have their own context, and task for use of a digital library All digital libraries also involve a context (economic, legal, social, cultural) – assumed here, not shown All digital libraries also involve a technical infrastructure – assumed here not shown ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 30

31. A model for a digital library course & education ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic31 seeking inf d - library Concepts collection organization services preservation evaluation; outcomes users, tasks, contexts Research & development

32. Conclusions Education in digital libraries is global Two major tracks –technological – infrastructure –institutional – structure Many librarians active participants in both –systems librarians involved most Today, most, if not ALL, librarians have to know about digital libraries –& have competencies to differing degrees ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 32

33. Conclusions … In education we are still struggling as to what to teach in digital libraries Practice is ahead of education Here is but one example of a set of topics for digital library education And possibly for librarians to consider what they have to know about digital libraries ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic 33

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36. ©© 2008 Tefko Saracevic36 Dubrovnik Dr. Bozo Tezak Conference Taken by Bob Hayes 1977