Virtual Collection in Digital Libraries

Digital libraries are a set of electronic resources and associated technical capabilities for creating, searching, and using information. Almost all digital libraries are made up of a number of virtual elements including the internet and intranets; integrated access to information; digitization of materials; access to electronic publication; electronic document delivery; resource sharing; cooperative developments; and, end-user services. A digital library that contains virtual collections helps its users in several ways. For a digital library to be able to easily create and remove virtual collections, to associate resources with different virtual collections in a flexible way, and to help users find the use the virtual collections, the library must have a structured approach to representing these collections. This book introduce the concept of virtual collections and outline the costs and benefits for defining such collections. It discusses the implications f virtual collections for enhancing interoperability and sharing across digital libraries. Students and professionals of library and information science will benefit from the contents of the book.