1998 DLRG Workshop - Digital Libraries in Practice: Issues and Ideas

Gail McMillan

Librarian, Associate Professor

director, Scholarly Communications Project
University Libraries,Virginia Tech
gailmac@vt.edu

I bring to any discussion of digital libraries my perspective, first, as a librarian, and, secondly, as an electronic publisher. The Scholarly Communications Project turns ideas into now-standard library resources and services such as Electronic Journals, Electronic Reserve, and Electronic Theses and Dissertations.

Issues

I'm concerned that many DL discussions focus on computer processing to the neglect of personalized services that libraries traditionally provide to their patrons and clients. Digital libraries and traditional libraries should not be separate, but merged to accomplish more than either can do individually. Personal services to students, faculty, and staff have determined the VTDL content and its growth through the Scholarly Communications Project at University Libraries, Virginia Tech.

Non-Governmental Organization Panel
Digital Libraries in Practice: Issues and Ideas - March 25, 1998