More Toys & A Bigger Sandbox Future Trends for Digital Libraries

The Old Sandbox… The sand is a bit dirty.The sand is a bit dirty. The wooden sides of the sandbox are rough & worn, easy to get splinters.The wooden sides of the sandbox are rough & worn, easy to get splinters. Years of play have left less sand in the sandboxdirt rather than sand is visible in many spots.Years of play have left less sand in the sandboxdirt rather than sand is visible in many spots. Sometimes there isnt room for everyone.Sometimes there isnt room for everyone. And weve grown tired of our toys.And weve grown tired of our toys.

Bigger, Better & More… More technology can be deployed by institutions with the most modest budgets and by our customersmore toys.More technology can be deployed by institutions with the most modest budgets and by our customersmore toys. More individuals and organizations can contributecan play.More individuals and organizations can contributecan play. More customers can be served; our resources can be differently highlighted…More customers can be served; our resources can be differently highlighted… …and we will be challenged to do more and do it better.…and we will be challenged to do more and do it better.

…New Partners Conduits are being established for non- traditional casual and expert input from the every day person.Conduits are being established for non- traditional casual and expert input from the every day person. Academic, public and private libraries collaborating to publish tens of thousands of searchable, downloadable books…for free.Academic, public and private libraries collaborating to publish tens of thousands of searchable, downloadable books…for free. The Library of Congress teaming with Flickr (!) to provide more access to its photographic collections.The Library of Congress teaming with Flickr (!) to provide more access to its photographic collections.

It cant be the same… We cant put these collections on our website now! We dont have a trained scanner to digitize the items or cataloger to provide the metadata.We cant put these collections on our website now! We dont have a trained scanner to digitize the items or cataloger to provide the metadata. In over two years, one library keeps two high-value collections physically vaulted.In over two years, one library keeps two high-value collections physically vaulted. In the same time period, another library grows an 11K image collection beyond 15K.In the same time period, another library grows an 11K image collection beyond 15K.

…it just cant be. Our digital collection will be better because individuals names will always be from the LC approved authority…Our digital collection will be better because individuals names will always be from the LC approved authority… In just over a calendar year, one library adds 218 images to one online collection. Very robust metadatacompletely able to be mapped to WorldCat.In just over a calendar year, one library adds 218 images to one online collection. Very robust metadatacompletely able to be mapped to WorldCat. In the same time period, another library adds images in two separate collections with searchable metadata.In the same time period, another library adds images in two separate collections with searchable metadata.

Library of Congress

Family History Archives Collaboration between the Family History Library, BYUs Lee Library, and the Allen County Public Library.Collaboration between the Family History Library, BYUs Lee Library, and the Allen County Public Library. Digitize public domain family and key local history materials.Digitize public domain family and key local history materials. Create high-quality images, digital tables of contents, OCR-ed text, fully searchable PDF documents, viewable and downloadable…for free.Create high-quality images, digital tables of contents, OCR-ed text, fully searchable PDF documents, viewable and downloadable…for free.

Wabash Valley Visions & Voices: A Digital Memory Project Billie Creek Village City of Terre Haute Clabber Girl Museum Clinton Public Library Coal Town & Railroad Museum Education Heritage Association E. V. Debs Museum Indiana State University Knox Co. Public Library Native American Mus. Rose-Hulman Inst. of Technology St. Mary-of-the-Woods College Sullivan Co. Hist. Soc. Sullivan Co. Pub. Lib. Vigo County Hist. Soc. Vigo County Public Lib.

WikisWeRelate.org User contributed and user-enhanced family & local history data.User contributed and user-enhanced family & local history data. Providing a non-traditional way of publishing data.Providing a non-traditional way of publishing data. A library working to create a library the community controls.A library working to create a library the community controls. A good complement to FamilySearch Wiki.A good complement to FamilySearch Wiki.

FamilySearch Indexing

The Process Microfilmed records are digitized; digital film from the field is processed.Microfilmed records are digitized; digital film from the field is processed. Images batched and placed online.Images batched and placed online. Indexing software downloadable.Indexing software downloadable. Image and software arrive on your computer desktop.Image and software arrive on your computer desktop. Indexing is done [A-B, arbitrator,…].Indexing is done [A-B, arbitrator,…]. Anyone, anytime, anywhere…Anyone, anytime, anywhere…

WorldCat.org Online catalog built by more than 10K libraries world-wide.Online catalog built by more than 10K libraries world-wide. More than one billion records.More than one billion records. Incorporates some of the best of the latest technologies.Incorporates some of the best of the latest technologies. Links to other data silos.Links to other data silos. Invites participation.Invites participation.

WorldCat.org

More Toys…Bigger Sandbox Institutions that historically stayed away from one another are working together.Institutions that historically stayed away from one another are working together. More data is available for more types of research(ers).More data is available for more types of research(ers). Expertise that traditionally was unobtainable and/or unaffordable is being welcomed and contributed.Expertise that traditionally was unobtainable and/or unaffordable is being welcomed and contributed.

The toys… …must enable collaboration.…must enable collaboration. …must invite participation.…must invite participation. …must be Web X.1…must be Web X.1

…and the Sand. Our new sandbox is biggerperhaps we dont even need a box. Lets go to the beach!Our new sandbox is biggerperhaps we dont even need a box. Lets go to the beach! Fresher, brighter, more sand!Fresher, brighter, more sand! We wont get as many splinters maybe none.We wont get as many splinters maybe none. More people can play.More people can play.