Module Identifier
ILM7510
Module Title
DIGITAL INFORMATION: DISCOVERY TO DELIVERY
Academic Year
2008/2009
Co-ordinator
Mrs Lucy A Tedd
Semester
Semester 2

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Seminars / Tutorials 6 x 2 hours.
Other 2 x 2 hours visits
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Report (3,000 words)  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 and in particular the digital collections made available from the National Library of Wales will be used as a case study .

Content

The topics to be covered in lectures/seminars will comprise:

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number Not explicitly
Communication Information presentation in various formats for different audiences
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.
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
Personal Development and Career planning The information gained from studying this course will help students seeking a career in the information industry
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.
Subject Specific Skills Management of collections of digital information
Team work The seminars will involve students working in groups to investigate particular digital information aspects

Reading List

Recommended Text
Tedd, L.A. and J.A. Large (2005) Digital Libraries: principles and practice in a global environment This is also available as an e-book through Information Services at UWA Munich: Saur Primo search Recommended Consultation
Study pack All students will receive a copy of the Distance learning study pack for this module. Primo search Chowdhury, G. G. Introduction to digital libraries /G.G. Chowdhury and Sudatta Chowdhury Primo search Chowdhury, G. G. Introduction to digital libraries /G.G. Chowdhury, Sudatta Chowdhury. Primo search Deegan, Marilyn. Digital futures :strategies for the information age /Marilyn Deegan and Simon Tanner. Primo search Haynes, David. Metadata for information management and retrieval /David Haynes. Primo search Hughes, L (2003) Digitizing collections: strategic issues for the information manager London: Facet Publishing Primo search Lee, Stuart D. Building an electronic resource collection :a practical guide /Stuart D. Lee and Frances Boyle. Primo search Secker, Jane Electronic Resources in the Virtual Learning Environment:A Practical Guide for Librarians Primo search Witten, I. H. How to build a digital library /Ian H. Witten, David Bainbridge. Primo search Students will also be advised to read articles in relevant journals ( all of which are accessible electronically via Information Services at UWA), including the international journal Program: electronic library and information systems ( the module co-ordinator is the Editor of this) Primo search

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7