“In a session on the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA), Robert Darnton, Director of the Harvard University Library, likened the concept to Thomas Jefferson’s observation that often the use of something does not diminish its value.”
“I want to offer a work-in-progress report on the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) and to argue that it is a feasible, affordable project as well as an opportunity to realize the Enlightenment ideals on which our country was founded.”
“The operation is making quick progress and should have a full operational online database set up by April 2013.”
“During the last two weeks, two major national events exploring the frontiers of e-publishing took place on opposite coasts of the US…”
“Distributed content might be an appealing vision even at the scale of DPLA, where a wide range of digital treasures reside at local public libraries, archives, and museums.”
” So, enter the DPLA: a digital library mega-effort with an ambitious goal to make all of our rich cultural heritage available across the web. How will that change the activities in library spaces in rural Texan towns or neighborhood libraries in San Jose?”
The development private philanthropy to fund public libraries, federal, state, regional and local support of libraries and networks, the emergence of library consortia and meta data standardization, suggest the elements needed to build the DPLA.
“Enter the nonprofit alternative for bringing the world’s books online for all readers: the newly-funded Digital Public Library of America.”
One of the settled principles of DPLA is that access should be free at the point of the end-user.
Kara Novak writes about the October 21 Plenary Meeting in Washington DC for PublicKnowledge.org
