FINDINGS
The following represent key elements of digital library systems in
Japan:
- Advanced, mission-specific, and compelling digital library systems are
operational in some Japanese public institutions and commercial
enterprises.
- Technology companies are exploring advanced digital library components and
computing paradigms. Commercial emphasis is on custom integrations.
- Replicable solutions, services, and outsourcing were not observed except as
envisioned by the Second Generation Digital Library project.
- Japanese businesses and public institutions are engaged in a
second-generation digital library project with a comprehensive
architecture.
- Most libraries and museums do demonstration projects, while some are
aggressive "early adopters" of digital library approaches.
The following points summarize the findings of the trip regarding systems
and architecture:
- Advanced, mission-specific digital library systems are driving certain
public institutions and commercial enterprises forward. These systems are
usually part of a business process reengineering effort caused by rapid changes
in the nature of information creation, consumption, and distribution
technologies that affect core business functions and create new business
opportunities. In these cases, architecture and systems are driven by business
processes.
- Individually, technology companies are doing exploratory work on components
for integration into current systems, but also looking forward to new computing
paradigms that imply fundamental changes in systems, particularly with respect
to information access and distribution. In these cases, it is clear that the
interest is in providing advanced core technologies that support many
information technology market segments.
- Cooperatively, Japanese business and institutions are engaged in a
second-generation digital library project, which does provide a comprehensive
architectural and systems point of reference. This is CORBA-based, takes
advantage of advances in networking, features metadata management and many
flavors of search and query.
- Libraries and museums, whose approach to information management in many
ways inspires the technologies we saw, are split between those that are doing
interesting, but limited demonstration or exploratory projects, and those that
are aggressive "early adopters" with comprehensive visions and commitments to
change the ways information is acquired, managed, and utilized in their
environments. The library and museum sector featured many digitization
projects, and offered numerous insights into the capture and cataloging
subcomponents of an overall digital library system.
Published: February 1999; WTEC
Hyper-Librarian