The purpose of this document is to discuss the difference between the phrases digital library, electronic library, and virtual library with the hope that I shall never have to answer this question again. The following definitions are my personal opinion, for which only I may be blamed.
A library is an organized collection of items of various formats (books, journals, videos, CD-ROMs, etc.) along with the services required to make them available to a given user group or groups. It is not a collection of programming routines, at least in this context.
An electronic library is a library consisting of electronic materials and services. Electronic materials can include all digital materials, as well as a variety of analog formats that require electricity to use. For example, video tapes are an analog format that requires electronic equipment to view. Thus the term "electronic library" encompasses all the material that can be held by a "digital library", and is therefore more inclusive. It is, however, out of style.
A digital library is a library consisting of digital materials and services. Digital materials are items that are stored, processed and transferred via digital (binary) devices and networks. Digital services are services (such as reference assistance) that are delivered digitally over computer networks. One of the best examples of a digital library is the U.S. Library of Congress American Memory collection.
Both digital and electronic libraries can be virtual libraries if they exist only virtually -- that is, the library does not exist "in real life." For example, a virtual library can consist of material from a variety of separate libraries that are organized in a virtual space using computers and computer networks. One of the best examples of a virtual library is the Networked Computer Science Technical Reports Library (NCSTRL).
Now please go on to more important things, such as actually building them. If you're really brave, you can find out more about what I think is important about digital libraries.
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© 1999 UC Regents. All rights reserved.
Document maintained at http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/mydefinitions.html
by Roy Tennant.
Last update August 5, 1999. SunSITE Manager:
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