Digital Collections Worldwide, offered by Neal‐Schuman Publishers, will be a welcome addition to any reference collection. The volume focuses on digital collections which are permanent, authoritative, freely accessible and containing primarily, but not exclusively, English language content. The collections are either housed within the nation listed or are special collections pertaining to the country but hosted by sources from other nations. The authors are all US based academic librarians and their familiarity with the elements required to compile a useful and comprehensive reference book are evident in this publication.
This volume is easy to use and logical in its organization. The preface details the purpose of the publication and its intended audience. It also provides an overview of the organizational structure and the selection criteria used. The main content is organized into eight chapters. The first chapter contains collections with global coverage such as The Internet Archive. The subsequent chapters are organized by continent then subdivided alphabetically by country within each continent. At the back of the volume, users can utilize the two indexes as finding aids; the first an alphabetical listing of reference resources described, and the second a listing of names, subjects and titles listed alphabetically.
Each chapter begins with a synopsis of the state of digitization initiatives within the continent as well as a description of initiatives by outside organizations to assist in the preservation of the culture and heritage of these nations. A list of references accompanies each overview. Entries are listed alphabetically and follow a consistent layout throughout the text. The title is prominently bolded with the site URL listed below, making it easy to browse. The annotations are well written, providing the user with a straight‐forward synopsis of the importance and content of the collection. Some entries include access instructions which are useful additions. There are intriguing collections listed here which may have remained obscure to most individuals if not contained in this directory. The chapter on Antarctica is one such example. The descriptions of the sites and their content compel the reader to investigate further. This is one of the advantages to creating an easy to use text with a well laid out format.
One unique and welcome highlight is the inclusion of a companion website containing links to every collection featured in the book. This website is updated every three months to ensure that changes to collection URLs are quickly noted and revised. Updates are prominently displayed in the online listings. The creation of this companion was a wise move on the part of the authors to ensure that the paper‐based directory does not quickly become redundant. It also allows the users to go directly to a site of interest without having to type in the URL listed within the paper text, thereby providing the best of both worlds to the user.
Creating a publication which is global in scope will always be a daunting task. One is compelled, however, to criticize the US‐centric nature of the collections contained in this directory. A total of 108 pages are dedicated to material related to US history and heritage. There are a great number of fascinating collections highlighted within this section; however, when compared to England, which has a single listing, the emphasis seems unduly directed toward a US audience. Not even the selected digitization of the revered Cambridge University illustrated manuscripts collection receives mention. Similarly, although Canada is described as one of the most actively involved countries in digitization projects, the listing of collections are limited in number. The Virtual Museum of Canada (RR 2011/400) containing over 700 digital collections housing more than nine million images does not appear, while the University of Southern Mississippi's political cartoon collection receives mention in the Cambodia section. Another puzzling omission is the United Nations and its myriad of historical documentation online; only an UNESCO site merits mention. Happily, the authors remain committed to receiving suggestions for inclusion in online updates and future versions.
Notwithstanding these criticisms, this volume will be an important addition to any reference collection. The strength lies in the scope and coverage available to users. The sites listed are reputable and relevant. Many small and less‐developed countries are represented here even though the number of collections may currently be limited. It would be difficult if not virtually impossible in many cases to find digital collections for some of these nations and for some topics. While helpful to users in locating material, this volume will also serve to increase the exposure and use of many of the highly unique collections itemized here. This volume will be well worth the price.
