Digital Libraries and Virtual Workplaces: Important Initiatives for Latin America in the Information Age.
Edited by Johann van Reenen
University of New Mexico
Published by the
Organization of American States, Washington, DC, USA
Digital Libraries and Virtual Workplaces: Important Initiatives for Latin America in the Information Age.
CONTENTS:
Chapter 1. The Characteristics of the 21st Century
Johann van Reenen, University of New Mexico, UNM Libraries, and the Ibero-American Science & Technology Education Consortium, Albuquerque, NM, USA
Chapter 2. IT and Electronic commerce
Ramiro Jordan, University of New Mexico and the Ibero-American Science & Technology Education Consortium, Albuquerque, NM, USA
Chapter 3. Scholarly publishing and intellectual property in the electronic environment
Johann van Reenen, University of New Mexico, UNM Libraries, and the Ibero-American Science & Technology Education Consortium, Albuquerque, NM, USA
Chapter 4. Overview of Digital Library developments
Edward A. Fox, Department of Computer Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
Chapter 5. Overview of a Guide for Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Edward A. Fox, Department of Computer Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
Chapter 6. The Technology supporting digital library development
Nancy K. Dennis, Collections and Technology Services, University of New Mexico General Library, Albuquerque, NM, USA
Chapter 7. Digital Libraries and distance education
Ana M B Pavani, Departamento de Engenharia Elétrica, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Chapter 8. Digital Information for Latin American Social Medicine: A case study
Holly Shipp Buchanan, Howard Waitzkin, Jonathan Eldredge, Russ Davidson, and Celia Iriart, Health Sciences Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Chapter 9. Science and technology information and digital library initiatives in Latin America
Johann van Reenen, University of New Mexico, UNM Libraries, and the Ibero-American Science & Technology Education Consortium, Albuquerque, NM, USA
Chapter 10. Databases and Portals for knowledge management
Soraya Abad-Mota, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Departamento de Computación y Tecnología de la Información, Caracas, Venezuela
Chapter 11. The Future role of the OAS in support of digital library developments in Latin America.
Carlos Paldao, Organization of American States, Washington, DC, USA
Summary (223 words)
Digital Libraries and Virtual Workplaces: Important initiatives for Latin America in the Information Age.
In a world becoming increasingly connected electronically the divide between people working in different at different levels, in different departments, organizations, and countries are melting away. It is becoming easier to "cross" political, economic and national borders. However, to participate in this global workplace, workers will need:
local information and technological infrastructures
access to global connectivity at reasonable speed and reliability
the skills required to work digitally
the attitudes needed to work in an increasingly ambiguous, paradoxical, and complex work environment
access to pertinent and affordable information
appropriate management structures to support virtual work
and, most importantly, leaders with vision and an understanding of what motivates this new type of worker
This monograph addresses all of these issues in the context of the development of digital libraries. To develop the software, digital content, human resources and services needed for successful digital library projects require innovation and working in new ways. The chapter authors were drawn from a variety of information technology situations. They provide, first, an understanding of the broad concepts and principles underlying the global electronic information economy. Secondly, the skills needed to develop digital library projects and detailed examples of successful projects, and finally, ways to integrate and deliver a variety of digital information and educational services based on digital library content and functions.