Wk 12 Readings

Social Issues

Many of the DL social issues identified in this week's readings were also revealed in readings about usability and searchability.  This week's readings present information that show who these two components (usability and social) converge as a common theme in refining digital libraries.

The overarching issues seems to be the difference between an organization, where DLs are specific and not global, and user-centered where DLs are global and are able to capture a wide swath of information for any user.

From a research workshop that identifies crucial social aspects of DLs, to David Rush's observations of Google's book scanning project, and finally a Viewpoints Analysis show that a significant goal for DLs refinement making credible information as accessible and easy to find as possible.

1. Workshop (SOCIAL ASPECTS OF DIGITAL LIBRARIES)

• this study focused on three aspects of "center":  Human, artifact, and systems.
• The core premise of the workshop was that digital libraries represent a set of significant social problems that require human and technological resources to solve. 
• The workshop was summarized as follows: (1) Information Needs: Identifying real information needs and developing digital libraries to meet those needs; and (2) End User Searching And Filtering: Designing digital libraries in which it is possible to find the right information in a glut of information. 

2. The Infinite Library by Wade Rush.

The problem is that with so much accessibility and copyright concern, libraries may actually lose the ability to distribute works of writing.

• Copyright issues could hamper libraries abilities to freely distribute material.  “just as portable and priracy prone as digital music".
• Libraries could flourish or suffer from the results of Google's digitization project.
• Downside of digitizing:  it is sometimes more costly to digitize a book than leave it on the shelf.
• Future of libraries:  Regardless of what happens with Google digitization, libraries should always be "comfortable places for thinking".

Note:  the last bullet shows how the human or social component of traditional libraries and DLs is so important to the survival of both.

          

3. A Viewpoint Analysis of the Digital Library

• Organization viewpoint (LOC is at the center) and many separate digial libraries vs.
• User Viewpoint (User's workspace is at the center).

To accommodate the user, it seems that a shift needs to take place.  "in turning a plethora of digital libraries into a single digital library from the users' viewpoint".

This articlThis is a great example that shows how a system of many separate DLs are not necessarily compatible with users.  The existence of separate DLs is also a concern for usability and searchability, so it seems that a logical goal is to move toward construction of central DLs for increased community gains and usability.