The Digital Library phenomenon : opportunities and implications for the Naval Service

Abstract

This thesis examines the emerging field of work encompassed by the term 'Digital Library,' and offers a plan for developing a Naval Service Digital Library. The amount of data and processing capabilities, available via networking technology, already defies description and continues to grow daily. As access to electronic resources and their diversity increase, a void in electronic Information Management principles and technologies has been uncovered. Participants in the global Digital Library (DL) movement are striving to adapt the principles of Library Science from locally controlled and accessed resources (books, magazines, videos, etc.) to remotely-shared electronic media and data processing systems. This thesis specifically addresses the movement's background, current initiatives and technologies (circa 1996). The Naval Service can benefit immediately from monitoring and exploiting the DL technologies being developed world- wide. There are tremendous economies to be reaped in meeting our non-tactical, day-to-day information needs. To date, Navy and Marine Corps DL-related projects are narrowly focused by organization and limited to tactical, engineering and research information needs. By consolidating these efforts with a unifying vision and cooperative intent, a Naval Service Digital Library (NSDL) can be constructed. The NSDL would benefit all service members, in both their professional and personal lives, by providing a gateway to millions of resources that are compatible, searchable and ready for use. This thesis recommends an organizational structure and management strategy for developing a Naval Service Digital Library