Reading Notes for Unit 10: Digital Library, Institutional Repositories

Digital Libraries: Challenges and Influential Work

I learned a lot reading this article. It was really interesting to read about the two federally funded digital library research initiatives; I'd heard the names DLI-1 and DLI-2 thrown about, but had no idea the impact that they'd had on the information and computer sciences and throughout society in general. I found this quote (referencing Lynch) to be really helpful in how I think about digitization and its limitations: "there is a huge difference between providing access to discrete sets of digital collections and providing digital library services." Getting the collection online is not going to solve reference problems; you still need library tools and professionals to make that information meaningful.

Dewey Meets Turing: Librarians, Computer Scientists, and the Digital Libraries Initiative

I thought this article did a really great job of explaining the relationship between librarians and computer scientists working on digital libraries, especially the conflicts that arise beween them and the mutually beneficial nature of their cooperation. I was especially interested to read that the computer scientists were also knocked off their feet by the rise of the Internet and that, though their relationship with librarians might not be critical to their survival as a field, they still find that relationship to be a helpful one. I also appreciated that the author made a point of saying that there's still a need for librarians in the digital environment; that's always nice to hear!

Institutional Repositories: Essential Infrastructure for Scholarship in the Digital Age

This article was really helpful in tying together some of the themes in my other classes, specifically that rewards systems do not support innovative academics and that scientific and intellectual progress can really suffer when institutions do not support their more technologically progressive members. The author discusses the important role that Institutional Repositories can play in rethinking thank system; he also examines the dangers that those repositories hold and suggests a high degree of commitment and thoughtfulness that would minimize the risk. I appreciate his enthusiasm and his insistance on careful planning.