National Library of Australia Staff Papers, 1999

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Digital Libraries: a National Library Perspective

Warwick Cathro

Abstract


A digital library, like any library, is a service which is based on principles of selection, acquisition, access, management and preservation, related to a specific client community. This paper examines some of the key challenges which these processes encounter when dealing with digital collections, with particular attention to the issues which are raised for national libraries. Examples are the challenge of selecting significant national digital publications, the challenge of how to acquire efficiently those digital publications which are selected, the challenge of integrating access to digital and traditional information resources, the challenge of ensuring reliable delivery of digital publications given their changeable physical location, and the enormous challenge of how to preserve digital publications. The paper refers to the National Library of Australia’s Digital Services Project, which has developed system requirements in the light of these issues and challenges.

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