Global Memory Net Offers the World Instantly
Ching-chih Chen · 2004
In this digital era, we have witness the exciting convergence of content, technology, and global collaboration in the development of digital libraries. Today’s information seekers, regardless whether they are general public, school children, or those from research and higher education communities seek information for education, research, entertainment, or enrichment in very different ways from before. From the information resources point of views, the old model of “owning” a collection has given way to “sharing,” and the new emphases have shifted from possessing large “physical libraries” to “virtual libraries” digitally distributed all over the world. This speaker has experienced much of these transformations through her own R&D activities – from the creation of interactive videodisc and multimedia CD in the 80s and 90s to leading a current international digital library project, Global Memory Net, supported by the US National Science Foundation, and her involvement in the ChinaUS Million Book Digital Library Project. In addressing the potential use and user of digital libraries, she will elaborate on how some of the new digital technology and techniques can and should be explored to enhance access, retrieval and use of global resources in addition to our traditional ways of creating and organizing materials. Global Memory Net is able to offer the world’s cultural and heritage treasures instantly. This speaker will demonstrate how it works, and will articulate the great potential for collaboration with Japanese content providers for universal access.