Module Identifier DSM7510  
Module Title DIGITAL INFORMATION : DISCOVERY TO DELIVERY  
Academic Year 2007/2008  
Co-ordinator Mrs Lucy A Tedd  
Semester Available all semesters  
Other staff Mr John Nelson, Ms Tanya C Rogers  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Assessment Report  100%
Supplementary Assessment Resubmission of failed coursework  100%

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Critically appraise digital information collections and relevant national and international initiatives


Identify and assess the challenges of managing and evaluating a collection of digital information sources

Analyse the stages in a project to digitise a particular collection and assess the importance of Intellectual Property Rights

Critically evaluate the searching and presentation issues related to digital information

Assess the importance of standards in digital information discovery and delivery

Brief description

Following government funding in various countries worldwide collections of digital information, or digital libraries, emerged during the 1990s as a key development area in practice, as well as in research, for information professionals, computer scientists, librarians, archivists as well as those involved in cultural heritage institutions. The advantages of such collections for users are various as they provide access to digital information sources on a 24/7 basis and are important in supporting changing patterns of teaching and learning in educational establishments, for general lifelong learning programmes, for global access to cultural artefacts, government information and so on. In addition they are seen by many as an opportunity to overcome the `digital divide? between countries as information can be made available in a language and format appropriate for users. Students of this module will explore and critically assess ways in which digital information is created, acquired, organised and presented within digital libraries so as to support its discovery and delivery. Examples of digital libraries implemented in many countries will be studied.

Content

The topics to be covered will comprise:

Module Skills

Problem solving Practical exercises and seminar sessions will encourage problem solving and student-centred learning  
Research skills Students will research an existing digital information collection as part of the report for the course work and will have to show evidence in their bibliography of research undertaken on other digitization projects.  
Communication Ablility to present information in a report format  
Improving own Learning and Performance Problem based learning through practicals and seminars, as well as writing a report, will help students acquire abilities that can be adapted for lifelong learning.  
Team work No  
Information Technology Students of this module will make extensive use of the Internet to research specific digital information collections. Use will be made of IT in the presentation of the final report for assessment  
Application of Number Not explicitly  
Personal Development and Career planning The information gained from studying this course will help students seeking a career in the information industry  
Subject Specific Skills Management of collections of digital information  

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
Tedd, L.A. and J.A. Large (2005) Digital Libraries: principles and practice in a global environment Munich: Saur
** Recommended Consultation
Chowdhury, G. G. Introduction to digital libraries /G.G. Chowdhury and Sudatta Chowdhury 1856044653
Chowdhury, G. G. Introduction to digital libraries /G.G. Chowdhury, Sudatta Chowdhury. 1856044653
Deegan, Marilyn. Digital futures :strategies for the information age /Marilyn Deegan and Simon Tanner. 1856044114
Haynes, David. Metadata for information management and retrieval /David Haynes. 1856044890
Hughes, L (2003) Digitizing collections: strategic issues for the information manager London: Facet Publishing
Lee, Stuart D. Building an electronic resource collection :a practical guide /Stuart D. Lee and Frances Boyle. 1856045315
Secker, Jane Electronic Resources in the Virtual Learning Environment:A Practical Guide for Librarians
Witten, I. H. How to build a digital library /Ian H. Witten, David Bainbridge. 1558607900

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7