Hi everyone,

Perhaps of interest, from the diglib list.

best,
Rob

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Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2005 14:25:27 +0530 (IST)
From: Shyam Prasad pujar <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Self-Learning Module on Digitization and Digital Libraries (fwd)

Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2005 10:23:40 +0530
From: Dr. T.B. Rajashekar <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: [LIS-Forum] Self-Learning Module on Digitization and Digital
    Libraries

Dear All

*** Apologies for any cross-posting of this message ***

FAO has recently released a self-learning module on "Digitization and
Digital Libraries". This was developed jointly between FAO and UNESCO with
the support of the National Centre for Science Information (NCSI) at the
Indian Institute of Science (IISc). This module is intended to train
librarians and other information specialists in the conceptual and practical
bases for the digitization of collections, and in the creation and provision
of access to digital libraries.

This module is part of the Information Management Resource Kit (IMARK)
initiative of FAO, which has been developing a series of interactive
self-paced learning modules, related to information management since 2001
for delivery on CD-ROM (http://www.fao.org/IMARK/). The first IMARK module
on "Management of Electronic Documents", which covers the collection,
archiving, management and dissemination of electronic documents and
associated images was released in November 2003 and has been received quite
well, notably in the Asian region.

The "Digitization and Digital Libraries" module provides 31 lessons
concerned with the creation and sharing of digital library collections.
Lessons cover topics such as copyright issues, electronic formats for text
and images, metadata and subject indexing, preservation of digital material
as well as a comprehensive overview of the creation and management of
digital documents. The module expands upon several of the topics covered in
the module "Management of Electronic Documents" mentioned earlier. The 31
lessons (each roughly of 30-40 minutes learning time) are organized in 6
units:

Unit 1: Conceptual Overview. Introduces digital libraries and the legal
environment within which they operate. Examples from different subject
domains are used to demonstrate the use and main features of digital
libraries.

Unit 2: Electronic Documents and Formats. Describes and provides a technical
overview of the various formats of electronic documents, character encoding
schemes and encoding scripts, document mark-up, and how to convert between
the various formats.

Unit 3: Metadata Standards and Subject Indexing. Describes the role of
metadata, metadata types, various standards and their application in
organizing electronic documents, including the Dublin Core. Introduces the
principles and procedures of subject indexing.

Unit 4: Creation and Management of Digital Documents. Covers the workflows
involved in the creation and management of electronic documents, including
the digitization, creation and adaptation of documents for a digital
library, issues related to heritage documents.

Unit 5: Creation and Sharing of Digital Libraries. Covers the processes and
resources required for planning, implementing and managing a digital library
project.

Unit 6: Example of Digital Library Software ñ Greenstone. Describes the use
of the Greenstone Digital Library Software in building and providing access
to digital library collections.

The module uses Flash and XML technology for retrieving and presenting the
lessons.

In addition to the lessons themselves, the module provides the learners with
access to an internal search function and a technical glossary, as well as
with on-board and on-line reference materials, including relevant
non-proprietary software applications and tools. The module also contains
several additional resources, including Greenstone Digital Library software,
three thesauri related to Agriculture and a digital imaging tutorial.

The module CD-ROM is available free of charge. Visit IMARK website
(http://www.fao.org/IMARK) for more details of the IMARK initiative and to
request for a copy of this e-learning module CD-ROM.

We sincerely hope that this module will help a large number of information
professionals, particularly those who are not in a position to undergo
formal education/ training in this area, in improving their conceptual and
practical understanding of digitization and digital libraries. We also hope
that this will lead to creation and sharing of greater number of quality
digital library collections, particularly with local content. We welcome
your critical comments and suggestions about this module which will help us
to improve it further.

Regards

T.B. Rajashekar

-------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. T.B. Rajashekar
Associate Chairman            Tel: +91-80-23600271, 23601427
National Centre for Science   Fax: +91-80-23601426, 23600683
  Information (NCSI)          E-Mail: [email protected]
Indian Institute of Science   URL: http://144.16.72.189/raja/
BANGALORE-560012 (India)
-------------------------------------------------------------
           SciGate: http://www.ncsi.iisc.ernet.in/
             The IISc Science Information Portal
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--
_________________________________________________________________
Rob Lancefield                           [email protected]
Manager of Museum Information Services / Registrar of Collections
Davison Art Center, Wesleyan University      www.wesleyan.edu/dac
301 High Street, Middletown CT 06459 USA        tel. 860.685.2965
Board of Directors, Museum Computer Network           www.mcn.edu


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