INFO 547 Course Information (Tri 3, 2009/2010)

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Course description Learning objectives Schedule Assessment Recommended texts

Welcome to INFO 547, Digital Libraries

Please note we recommend that you complete the core course INFO 525 before taking this elective as part of the MLIS or PGCert/DipARM.

INFO 547 Digital Libraries will be coordinated and taught by Chern Li Liew. This course aims to familiarise students with both theoretical and practical aspects of digital library activities, and with key elements in digital library creation and management. The intention is to provide students with the knowledge to take useful part in digitisation projects in libraries, archives, museums or any similar environment.

In order to arrive at that position, you will need to learn some digital library terms and concepts. You will need to study digital library planning. You will also need to learn as much as you can in the time available about digital library content strategy, the legal framework, the preservation of digital objects, the practical requirements and facilities, interoperability issues and about the usability of digital libraries, among other things.

The integration of entertainment, communication and education on a digital platform began more than 25 years ago and has hurried along ever since. Now, in your home and office, you are very likely to be surrounded by digital equipment. Libraries were in the vanguard of online database access many years ago, and it is fair to say that some librarians and information managers have been 'early adopters' of new technologies since then. The term 'digital libraries' has become part of the language of information management, so it is natural that the School of Information Management continues to offer this course on the subject.

Course description

INFO 547 is an introduction to the creation and maintenance of digital libraries.  The focus is therefore on the theoretical and practical issues of selection, digitisation, description, delivery and preservation of digital collections. This course is not intended to cover the management of digital libraries comprised of purchased electronic data sets or e-books, although some of the issues addressed will no doubt overlap

Before starting the course, you should have a basic understanding of Internet services and you should be prepared to participate in the exploration and discussion of a range of DL issue.

You should expect to spend 12.5 hours a week on INFO 547. For much of this time you will require an Internet-connected computer. The course involves:

• a significant proportion of study time on the Internet; and
• participation in discussions.

Learning objectives

By the conclusion of the INFO 547 course, students should have:

1. Understand and manage the processes required to acquire, organise and deliver knowledge in digital form, in order to create an effective digital collection.
2. Discuss the role of librarians and information professionals in the planning, creation and management of digital libraries.
3. Analyse and exemplify the role of digital libraries in widening access to information and in promoting diversity and minority cultures.
4. Articulate the critical issues in the planning, organisation, maintenance and delivery of digital collections, including preservation and intellectual property.

Schedule

INFO 547 will be taught in the third trimester of the 2009 academic year from 16 November 2009 to 12 February. The mid-trimester break is from 21 December-3 January.

Please note that due to enrolment numbers this course will be taught in distance mode only. If you are based in Wellington you will be able to attend the online sessions in MY 211, a computer lab in the Murphy Building, but will need to bring your own headset to participate in the classes.

• The weekly Internet conference sessions will be held on Tuesdays from 5.00-6.30 p.m.

Assessment

INFO 547 is internally assessed, with the following assignments to be completed in order to satisfy the mandatory course requirements. Full details, including explanatory notes and criteria, are available under "Assignments" on Blackboard.

Recommended texts

The course will not have a prescribed text. However, access to the following will be useful addition to the readings provided on the course Blackboard site:

• Baker, D. and Evans, W. (2009).  Digital Library Economics: An Academic Perspective.  Oxford: Chandos Publishing.
• Bishop, A. P., Van House, N. A. and Buttenfield, B. P. (2003). Digital Library Use: Social Practice in Design and Evaluation.  Cambridge, Mass.: The MIT Press.
• Chowdhury, G. G. and Chowdhury, S. (2003). Introduction to Digital Libraries. London: Facet.
• Harvey, D. R. (2006). Preserving Digital Materials. Munchen: Saur.
• Intner, S. S., Lazinger, S. S., and Weihs, J. (2006). Metadata and its Impact on Libraries. Westport, Conn: Libraries Unlimited.
• Kresh, D. (ed) (2007). The Whole Digital Library Handbook. Chicago: American Library Association.
• Lesk, M. (2004). Understanding Digital Libraries (2nd ed.). Boston: Elsevier.
• Reese, Jr., T. and Banerjee, K. (2008). Building Digital Libraries. New York: Neal-Schumann Publishers.
• Tedd, L. A. and Large, T. A. (2005). Digital Libraries: Principles and Practice in a Global Environment. Munchen: Saur.
• Theng, Y.L. and Foo, S. (2005).  Design and Usability of Digital Libraries: Case Studies in the Asia Pacific. Hershey: Information Science Publishing.
• Witten, I. H. and Bainbridge, D. (2003). How to Build a Digital Library. San Francisco, Ca: Morgan Kaufman.