Working Group |
Mission Statement
The Digital Libraries Working Group encourages and fosters the digitization of important research-oriented materials to be made broadly available to the world via the Internet. Among this group's tasks are to assist in the funding and completion of such digital collections, while agreeing on standards for interoperability, metadata, and identifying useful items/collections.
Libraries are increasingly viewing digitization as a viable means for preserving rare or endangered materials. These materials -- many of them highly restricted in their native state -- can then be made accessible from any Internet-connected computer in the world, allowing users the convenience of direct access. Because of the geographic distance between Germany and North America, the power of the Internet takes on new importance and value. In fields like cultural linguistics, literary studies, and history, digital projects are revolutionizing how scholars approach the use of primary source material, making research possible that would have been very difficult or even impossible only a few years ago. The case is very similar for secondary materials, articles, bibliographies, reference works, and a myriad of other helpful scholarly necessities.
The Digital Libraries Working Group has set itself three major tasks with regards to German and North American digital collaboration:
(1) To identify bodies of material for digitizing that would make a significant impact on the scholarship in one or more fields.
(2) To encourage and assist however possible with the planning and implementation of digital projects that fit the parameters of the German-North American Resources Partnership. Since digitization is labor-intensive and costly, careful planning is necessary and inter-institutional collaboration is highly desirable. The working group serves as a clearinghouse for such collaboration.
(3) Advertising and easing access to appropriate digital projects and collections (through cataloging, metadata creation, portals, search protocols, and through other means).
To join the Digital Libraries Working Group's listserv, email Judy Eckoff Alspach with your full name, email address, and institutional affiliation.
