Message-Id: <199610222303.SAA00424@library.wustl.edu> Date: Tue, 22 Oct 1996 16:09:06 -0900 From: Stuart Glogoff <mailto:sglogoff@BIRD.LIBRARY.ARIZONA.EDU> Subject: National Digital Library Federation To: Multiple recipients of list IMAGELIB
Hello: is anyone out there who would like to update us on any news about the National Digital Library Federation? Following is an announcement from May 1st from http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/documents/libraries/net/digfed1.htm. The fifth paragraph says the first phase should be completed "six months" from May 1st, which is close to now, which is why I was wondering if much progress had been made. A statement on missions and goals and members can be read at http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/documents/libraries/net/digfed2.htmStuart Glogoff, U. of Arizona Lib.
------------------------------------------------------------------ National Digital Library Federation Agreement Signed
May 1, 1995 . Boston, MA Leaders of fifteen of the nation's largest research libraries and archives and the Commission on Preservation and Access today signed an agreement that pledges collaboration toward the establishment of a National Digital Library Federation. At the signing held at Harvard University, the founding members of the Federation--collectively responsible for hundreds of millions of cultural, scholarly and historical resources--agreed to cooperate on defining what must be done to bring together--from across the nation and beyond--digitized materials that will be made accessible to students, scholars, and citizens everywhere, and that document the building and dynamics of United States heritage and cultures.
A primary goal of the Federation is the implementation of a distributed, open digital library accessible across the global Internet. The library will consist of collections--expanding over time in number and scope--to be created from the conversion to digital form of documents contained in founding member and other libraries and archives, and from the incorporation of holdings already in electronic form.
In support of that goal, the Federation will establish a collaborative management structure, develop a coordinated funding strategy, and formulate selection guidelines to ensure conformance to the general theme of U.S. heritage and culture. The Federation also will adopt common standards and best practices to ensure full informational capture and guarantee universal accessibility.
The agreement signed today recognizes and acknowledges the important leadership role that the Library of Congress has played in raising as a national issue the need for such a digital library.
The first phase of the Federation's work will be completed in six months. During that time, a task force coordinated by the Commission on Preservation and Access and composed of senior members of the staffs of the founding institutions will develop an action plan to address, among other issues, funding strategies and the involvement of additional institutions. The Commission will report regularly on developments.
The primary mission of the Commission on Preservation and Access is to foster, develop and support collaboration among libraries and allied organizations to ensure the preservation of the published and documentary record in all formats and to provide enduring access to scholarly information. It operates as a private, non-profit corporation supported by foundation grants and the sponsorship of colleges, universities, associations, libraries, and publishers.
Maxine K. Sitts Program Officer Commission on Preservation and Access 1400 16th St., NW, Suite 740 Washington, DC 20036
For More Information, contact:
M. Stuart Lynn Vice President for Technology (510) 548-2244 mailto:mslynn@cpa.org