The JISC UX2.0 project has released Usability Inspection of Digital Libraries.

Here's an excerpt:

The JISC funded project, UX2.0 aims to contribute to this general body of works by enhancing a digital library through a development and evaluation framework centered on usability and contemporary user experience. User-centred design (UCD) forms the overall approach of UX2.0. Technological developments will be implemented in tandem with research, usability studies and evaluation.

This report relates to an UX2.0 objective to undertake usability inspection. It presents the findings of a general usability inspection (work package 2—WP2.1) done through heuristics evaluation on a selection of digital libraries. . . .

The report will detail the heuristic methodology chosen to conduct the report, followed by an introduction to the design patterns identified in Section 3 and 4 respectively. Following this the results of usability inspection are presented in three sections; resource discovery (Section 5), navigation (Section 6) and enhancing user experience (Section 7). Resource discovery deals with the search and browse aspects of each digital library, referencing the design patterns used where appropriate. Navigation discusses specific types of navigation including faceted navigation and pagination. It also inspects the orientation through the DL and how the labeling helps or hinders user expectations. Finally the third part of the results (enhancing user experience) discusses the provision of value-added services of the DLs. Each the results section includes a discussion. The overall conclusions of the inspection in general are given in Section 8.

Carl Lagoze has made his doctoral dissertation, "Lost Identity: The Assimilation of Digital Libraries into the Web," available.

Here's an excerpt:

The idea of Digital Libraries emerged in the early 1990s from a vision of a "library of the future", without walls and open 24 hours a day. These digital libraries would leverage the substantial investments of federal funding in the Internet and advanced computing for the benefit of the entire population. The world’s knowledge would be a key press away for everyone no matter where their location. This vision led to substantial levels of funding from federal agencies, foundations, and other organizations for research into fundamental technical problems related to networked information and deployment of the results of this research in numerous digital library applications. The result was a number of exciting and influential technical innovations.

But, the attempt to transplant the library to the online environment met with some unexpected obstacles. The funding agencies and many of the members of the digital library research community mainly focused on the technical issues related to online information. In general, they assumed that the new technology would be applied in a largely traditional (library) context, and largely ignored the profound social, economic, cultural, and political impact of turning "books (and other information resources) into bytes". The extent of this impact was demonstrated by the concurrent evolution of the World Wide Web, a networked information system not bound by legacy institutional conventions and practices or funding agency mandates and, therefore, able to organically evolve in response to the profoundly democratizing effect of putting information online. This has provided the context for the recent revolution in the web known as Web 2.0, a participatory information environment that contradicts most of the core assumptions of the traditional library information environment. The overwhelming adoption of the Web 2.0 model for both popular culture and serious information exchange and the increased evidence of the efficacy of this model for activities such as learning and scholarship call into question the viability of the library information model and the digital libraries that were meant to instantiate that model online.

In this dissertation I examine the almost two decade history of digital library research and analyze the relevance of the library information model, or meme, in relationship to the transformative Web 2.0 meme. I use my research results in digital library infrastructure and technology over this period as both a lens for viewing this historical relationship and a mirror for revealing its various facets. This analysis is particularly relevant as I, and fellow members of the research community, begin to engage in large-scale cyberinfrastructure projects that need to move beyond the largely technical focus of earlier digital library initiatives and recognize the sociotechnical nature of the work that lies ahead.

The University of Arizona School of Information Resources and Library Science is accepting applicants for the school's graduate certificate program in Digital Information Management (DigIn). IMLS-funded scholarships are available for students entering the program in 2010.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

The DigIn program features hands-on experience and focused instruction supporting a wide range of professional careers involving digital systems and data. The certificate includes six three-credit courses designed to build students' hands-on technology skills, and to help students acquire the advanced knowledge needed to curate digital collections, manage digital projects, and to set policies for access and long-term preservation.

In 2009, the first cohort of DigIn graduates completed their certificate requirements with practical "capstone" field projects in a broad range of professional settings, including the Library of Congress, the Metropolitan New York Library Council, the College of William and Mary, UC Riverside, the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives, Phoenix Public Library, Cochise County (AZ) Historical Society, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, and the Mohave Museum of History and Art. As one 2009 graduate noted:

"DigIn broadened my knowledge of the history, trends, and best practices for digital collections. It has also given me the practical experience to tackle hands-on projects that require a deeper understanding of technology and information management. My work in the DigIn program is most certainly what led to me landing a job in a technology-heavy environment."

For information professionals already working in the field, or those considering career changes, the DigIn certificate offers a flexible path for graduate studies. The program is delivered 100% online and has no residency requirements. Students generally complete the certificate in four or six semesters (15 months or 27 months).

Deadline For Summer '10 admission: April 1

Deadline for Fall ‘10 admission: July 1

Deadline for Spring ‘11: Nov. 1.

DigIn was developed in cooperation with the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records and the University of Arizona Outreach College. Major funding for the program comes from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which has also provided scholarship funding.

Additional details on the program including course descriptions, admissions requirements and application forms may be found on the program website:

digin.arizona.edu

Applicants may also contact the DigIn staff at:

digin at email.arizona.edu

Gerry Bayne at EDUCAUSE has released Paolo Mangiafico: Initiating a Campus-Wide Digital Information Plan (MP3 file).

Here's an excerpt :

In 2008, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation awarded Duke University a grant to initiate a campus-wide digital information plan. The university appointed a director for their programs and is moving forward with designing a strategies. This podcast features an interview with Duke's Director of Digital Information Strategy, Paolo Mangiafico.

John Wilkin's "Thinking and Acting Globally to Better Serve Local Needs: The Michigan Digital Library" presentation is now available.

Other presentations from the "Living Digital: The Future of Information and the Role of the Library Symposium" are also available.

Indiana University has been awarded a $2.38 Million Grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for the Kuali OLE (Open Library Environment) project.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

IU will lead the Kuali OLE (Open Library Environment) project, a partnership of research libraries dedicated to managing increasingly digital resources and collections. Together, these libraries will develop "community source" software that will be made available to libraries worldwide.

Kuali OLE (pronounced Oh-LAY) partners include Indiana University; Florida Consortium (University of Florida representing Florida International University, Florida State University, New College of Florida, Rollins College, University of Central Florida, University of Miami, University of South Florida and the Florida Center for Library Automation); Lehigh University; Triangle Research Libraries Network (represented by Duke University and North Carolina State University); University of Chicago; University of Maryland; University of Michigan; and the University of Pennsylvania.

Large academic research libraries such as these manage and provide access to millions of items, using software to track interrelated transactions that range from ordering and paying for items to loaning materials to library patrons.

As the nature of library collections expands to include more digital materials—including leased electronic journals and digitized photograph collections—libraries are increasingly interested in developing management software for these resources, said Interim Ruth Lilly Dean of University Libraries Carolyn Walters.

"Libraries now create, lease and share digital materials, but the systems in place for cataloging and tracking these items are based on print collections," said Walters. "With this project, we benefit from working together with a community of academic libraries that want to change the way that information is managed in the scholarly environment."

"Research libraries are in dire need of systems that can support the management of research collections for the next-generation scholar," said Robert H. McDonald, executive director for the project and IU's associate dean for library technologies. "This approach demonstrates the best of open-source software development, directed partnership resource needs, and a market of commercial support providers to truly align with the needs of research libraries within the higher education environment."

More than 200 libraries, educational institutions, professional organizations and businesses laid the groundwork for the Kuali OLE project by participating in the original OLE project, a design phase that was supported by an earlier grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and led by Duke University.

The Coalition for Networked Information launched the CNI Conversations series with Clifford A. Lynch in September.

Two podcasts are now available:

• Oct. 6, 2009
  Discussion topics included:
  • Internet2
  • NDIIPP storage systems symposium
  • Bamboo Project
  • University libraries and presses

• Sept. 15, 2009
  Discussion topics included:
  • DataNet
  • Google Books proposed settlement
  • Library measures for the challenging economic climate
  • Future of newspapers

Japan's National Diet Library is evaluating the creation of a fee-based digital library containing digitized versions of works in its collection (Thanks to ResourceShelf).

Read more about it at "National Diet Library, Others Envision Digital Database."

In "Digital Library Europeana Said To Be Europe’s Answer to Google Books Settlement," Dugie Standeford examines Google Book Search in the European context and considers whether Europeana can compete with it.

Here's an excerpt:

Europeana has the potential to be the "Google-like service Europe needs" but as part of a broader vision, said Europeana Marketing and Communications Manager Jonathan Purday. The EC has enabled Europeana to become operational and laid the foundations for an integrated platform providing access from museums, archives, libraries and audiovisual collections. But the digital library's future "depends on countries scaling up their digitisation efforts" and unifying their fragmented legal framework, he said.

The European Commission has published Europeana—Next Steps.

Here's an excerpt:

Europeana—Europe's online library, museum and archive—opened in November 2008 as part of the Commission's digital libraries initiative, aiming to make Europe's cultural and scientific heritage accessible to all on the internet. The European Parliament and the Council have highlighted the importance of Europeana both as a showcase of the cultural heritage of the Member States on the internet and to provide access for everyone to that heritage. At the same time they have underlined the economic potential of making our cultural treasures available online as a source for creativity and new products and services in areas such as tourism and learning.

This document looks ahead to the next phase of development of Europeana and its orientation for the future. It sets out the main challenges for the coming years in relation to 1) enriching Europeana’s content with both public domain and in copyright material of the highest quality and relevance to users, and 2) a sustainable financing and governance model. The objective is to ensure that Europeana and the underlying policies for digitisation, online accessibility and digital preservation give European culture a lasting visibility on the internet and turn our common and diverse heritage into an integral part of Europe's information infrastructure for the future.

In order to gather input on the best way to achieve this objective, the Commission is launching a consultation on the basis of a series of questions that can be found in the staff working paper accompanying this Communication. Interested parties are invited to submit their comments on any or all of the questions by 15 November 2009.

See also "Questions for the Public Consultation 'Europeana—Next Steps'."

Read more about it at "EU Divided over Google Books"; "EU Urges Google, Libraries to Cooperate to Put Books On-line"; "Europe's Digital Library Doubles in Size but also Shows EU's Lack of Common Web Copyright Solution"; and "Europe's Digital Library: Frequently Asked Questions."