Digital Library: Gross Structure and Requirements (Report from a Workshop)

The overall workshop goals were: to define those digital library parameters which especially influence issues of access to, retrieval of, and interaction with information; to identify key problems which must be solved to make digital library service an effective reality; to identify a general structure or framework for integrating research and solutions; and to propose and encourage specific, high-priority research directions within such a framework. We report the deliberations of a subgroup focusing on distributed data service taxonomy and digital library system requirements. After a prelude delimiting what we mean by Digital Library ( DL) , we suggest that the evolving distributed resource manager and application enabler concepts provide an organizing basis for offerings from which each data custodian and each end user can choose modules suiting his needs and preferences. We make a start towards identifying module classes and pointing out existing and needed requirements analyses. _____________________________________________________ The opinions, reflections, and ideas presented in this paper represent only the co-authors ′ individual and collected thoughts, and should not be construed to represent views of their respective organizations. This report may be submitted for publication and will probably be copyrighted if accepted. It has been issued as a Research Report for early dissemination of its contents. In view of the transfer of copyright to the outside publisher, its distribution prior to publication should be limited to peer communications and specific requests. After outside publication, requests should be filled only by reprints or legally obtained copies of the article (e.g., with payment of royalties). The digital prepublication version may not be excerpted without express written permission of one of its authors, except that short quotations may be used in other scholarly works provided that each such quotation is accompanied by a complete, accurate citation. Digital Library Structure and Requirements