Digital Libraries: Policy, Planning and Practice brings together a wealth of international experience in the planning and implementation of digital and hybrid library projects, providing a stimulating and informative handbook and reference for library staff and information managers. It consists of chapters contributed by leading specialists from Europe, North America, South Africa and the Middle East, who offer their insight into the decision-making processes that have shaped a variety of different digitization programmes. Beginning with introductory overviews of the digital library context, the US Digital Library Program and the UK e-lib and hybrid library programmes, Digital Libraries then divides into two main sections on policy and planning, and implementation and practice. The first explores concerns such as financial and resource planning, digitized compared to born-digital content and related service issues, open access to scholarly research archives, policies for and against preservation and their justification, and evaluating electronic information services. The second section is based on case studies on major European and North American digital library projects, including the Glasgow Digital Library, UCEEL (University of Central England Electronic Library), the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (discussed in the context of five international projects), the Indiana University music Variations and Variations2 Project, and the beginnings of the Library of Congress digital program and its integration into core library services. The concluding chapter discusses the way forward for digital libraries in the context of experiences at Tilburg University library, and possible enabling or limiting factors in the future. The result of drawing together these varied and illuminating experiences is a book that offers useful information and comparisons for all digital library project staff, institutional administrators, educators and developers of learning technology. It also provides useful pointers for researchers and project staff involved in archive and museum projects, as well as introducing students to the key ingredients of successful digital libraries.
Industry Reviews
'The editors have brought together many of the top theorists and practitioners in the development and deployment of digital libraries. There are authoritative contributions on the early development of digital libraries, analysis of the key policies issues, and critical appraisal of the implementation of workplace digital library services. Anyone interested in digital libraries will find this a very stimulating volume.' Michael Breaks, Heriot Watt University,UK '... an excellent choice for all LIS professionals and managers involved in digital and hybrid library practices who expect to learn from the experiences of others. It is also an excellent choice for all LIS educators specialising in this field and post-graduate students who need an overview of developments, practical realities and expectations of the future. Digital Libraries: Policy Planning and Practice concludes with a very useful and extensive bibliography. It is highly recommended to its intended audience, and is considered good value for money.' The Electronic Journal, June 2005 '...useful...the editors have put together an interesting mix of papers, from an international perspective, discussing different strands of planning and managing digital libraries....the real weight of the book is in the case studies...a practical work...' Library and Information Update 'While reading, I was already marking the book with my notes not for this review buut for my courses in Information Management.' Information Research Dec 2004 '...a useful reference source, providing insights from real-life projects that have been implemented in North America, Europe, the Middle East and South Africa.' Library Management, Vol 29, 2008
