The DPLA's Digital Stacks

To the minds behind the Digital Public Library of America, the future spectrum of DPLA users is key to defining the content and scope of the project.  Some involved in the development process have suggested users be viewed as either public or academic.  The majority, however, including Robert Darton, the director of Harvard University’s library system and a member of the Steering Committee, “imagine an enormously varied public” ranging from those in community college to people in retirement homes with a vast variety of information needs.  Meeting the needs of such a diverse group of users poses some distinct challenges.

The Digital Collection
Creating a collection with something for everyone will not be easy. Initially the collection will consist of over two million public domain documents.  DPLA board members also hope to include film, government documents, local history, manuscripts, music, newspapers, pamphlets, periodicals, video, webpages and blogs in the collection. However, in order not to infringe on bookstores and public library’s business, the collection will have a “moving wall” that prevents media that has been published within the last five to ten years from being included in the collection.

Accessibility
So as to be accessible to all, the content will be non-commercial ie. free to users, and will be available to anyone with Internet access.  The question still remains whether DPLA will act as a portal, directing users to the libraries that have the information they request, or if it will actually store the digital media within its own site.  Board members are leaning toward using DPLA as a portal, which would encourage smaller public libraries to create the best access and search tools for their user.

Board members hope to include orphan works, out of print writings, and copyrighted material in DPLA’s content.  In order to include these, there are many copyright and licensing issues with which to be dealt. 

Co-authored by Katie and Lisa

Sources

http://vvvclibrary.blogspot.com/2009/07/free-online-journals-for-all.html
http://dp.la/wiki/March_1_Workshop_Notes#A_DPLA_has_multiple_uses.2C_not_distinct_users
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2011/07/24/a_bookshelf_the_size_of_the_world/?page=full
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/05/american-digital-public-library-promise
http://techcrunch.com/2012/04/05/nonprofit-digital-public-library-of-america-to-launch-in-april-2013/
http://www.teleread.com/copy-right/digital-public-library-of-america-faces-uncertainty-over-functions-copyright/
http://www.publicknowledge.org/blog/digital-public-library-america-how-would-you-

Photo Credit

http://vvvclibrary.blogspot.com/2009/07/free-online-journals-for-all.html

http://vvvclibrary.blogspot.com