The synergies between technical background, the open access movement and the social role digital libraries play are the focus of Exploring Digital Libraries: Foundations, Practice, Prospects. Each of the three subtitle areas is interweaved and interrelated throughout the book to give the reader a thorough understanding of how digital libraries emerged, what they are, how they work and the possibilities they present in the evolving society of which they are part. The book is replete with examples of various digital libraries throughout the world, and it highlights much of the published literature to bring us the most up-to-date text available regarding digital libraries.
The technical perspective looks at the architecture that makes digital libraries possible and includes discussions on rankings, identifiers, linking, URLs, search engine optimisation, metadata discovery services, altmetrics, crowdsourcing availability and networked data. These are all linked back to the challenge of interoperability and the ways in which information in digital libraries can be found and how it can be used, reused and mashed up to create new information.
The open access side of digital libraries is also explored, as this allows digital libraries to play stronger roles by embedding themselves into the Web and Deep Web and allowing a broader diffusion of knowledge to the public, which in turn helps to bridge the digital divide. Discussions are built around the free flow of ideas, changing copyright restrictions, the exposure open access allows, repository management, deposit mandates and e-research data.
The social role digital libraries play is also discussed throughout the book, and Calhoun introduces a new framework to add to the growing digital libraries literature. This social role of digital libraries framework looks at 10 aspects, including informed citizenry, preservation and curation and economic benefits. The social roles also consider the communities in which participants can interact, share, contribute and build or maintain relationships. The fact that libraries are trusted social institutions that are valued in their communities and vital to democracies can help build a future case for the increase in digital library development. There is also much discussion around how digital libraries can play even greater social roles by breaking through current barriers and evolving beyond their current form. This includes discussions on shifting from content-centric systems to person-centric systems, shifting from collections to platforms and the widespread introduction of digital library apps. Embedded in this is the understanding that digital library builders understand, innovate and respond to how their communities use digital libraries and therefore adjust new developments accordingly to accommodate the different ways in which digital libraries are used.
Because the book is packed with so many topics, it allows the reader to learn about areas that are often glossed over in the daily running of a library; this is partly because they occur seamlessly. This book allows readers to take away sections of information which can then be used to better integrate and make more interoperable the digital libraries they manage. This really is a must read for those working in the digital library environment and for those who wish to explore digital library concepts further.
