Jeremy Frumkin

The Wiki and the digital library

Purpose – To look at how collaborative tools, such as Wikis, can be utilized in a digital library environment.Design/methodology/approach – A discussion of Wikis and postulation as to how such a tool might be used to facilitate research and collaboration in a digital library setting.Findings – Three potential applications of a digital library Wiki are discussed – the Wiki as a knowledge base tool, the Wiki as a content management tool, and the Wiki as a tool to empower interactive finding aids.Originality/value – Provides ideas for digital library developers and implementers, especially those looking for increasing collaboration and interactivity in digital libraries.

Defining digital libraries

Discusses our ongoing interest in debating the concept of the digital library, how to “de‐mystify” the concept, and the importance of being involved in the development of the digital library as it evolves.

The need for a digital library service registry

Purpose – To examine how a digital library service registry will help enable the development of distributed, service‐based digital libraries.Design/methodology/approach – A discussion of recent efforts in building service registries, the key components for a digital library service registry, and the need for a reference model for building distributed digital libraries.Findings – By building a reference model, digital library system development can move forward so that digital libraries become less silos of information and more interoperating collections of distributed servicesOriginality/value – Provides ideas for digital library developers and implementers, especially those looking for increasing collaboration and interactivity in digital libraries.

The problem of mainstreaming digital libraries

This paper examines the problem of digital library adoption by traditional libraries, and the efforts of the National Science Digital Library and the OCKHAM Initiative to address this problem.

In our cages with golden bars

Purpose – This paper aims to postulates on the current limitations of digital libraries, and what digital libraries might be if librarians and digital library developers thought about digital libraries differently.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is in the form of an experiential commentary.Findings – The paper finds that libraries should be more accepting of change and embrace the digital world.Originality/value – This paper seeks to move the thinking about the future of digital libraries beyond its current scope. It should be of interest to digital library developers, librarians, and information scientists.

The potential of the digital library as a platform

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to detail the experiences of creating a digital library service registry and to explore the need for a complete digital library technical platform.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is an experiential commentary.Findings – If digital libraries are looked upon not as individual systems, but as collections of services on top of a common platform then progress may be made to move beyond the limitations that current standards uphold.Originality/value – This paper talks about digital libraries as platforms as opposed to individual services/systems. It should be of interest to digital library developers, librarians, and information scientists.