Digital Collections Worldwide An Annotated Directory

The digitization of collections around the world offers tremendous opportunity for researchers on almost any subject. But how does one know what's available? That problem is masterfully addressed by Digital Collections Worldwide, another cutting-edge research tool from Neal-Schuman. An invaluable resource for anyone wishing to take full advantage of what the web has to offer, this extensively annotated and thoroughly indexed guide organizes and describes the contents of thousands of important digital collections around the globe. Organized geographically by continent, each chapter begins with an overview of the continent and digital collections relevant to the continent as a whole, and then provides separate sections for individual nations, introducing important digital collections and offering descriptions of their scope and purpose. Detailed information is then provided on each collection and each of its segments, including links to representative material. Pointing the way to many valuable and informative collections that are currently highly underutilized, the guide helps both librarians and researchers answer questions such as: What is the subject matter and content of the digitization project?; What institution, organization, library, museum or other host is making the information available? This unique resource speaks to one of the more difficult challenges facing reference librarians today. By describing a vast array of resources not commonly represented in fixed library collections or discoverable via popular search engines such as Google, it promises to extend the research capabilities of any library, however small. A companion website gives librarians and researchers all of the links found in the book so researchers can avoid transcribing the often-lengthy URLs.

"...indispensable for scholars and researchers in digitization particularly, but essential for digital research on virtually any subject. Every reader and researcher, librarians and patrons, will find something of interest and importance in the global range of topics." --Library Journal, September 2011

"Compiled by three academic librarians, Digital Collections Worldwide provides an exhuastive and valuable annotated listing of the world's most authoritative and comprehensive digital collections...the book will never be outdated because the authors maintain a companion Web site that updates broken links and incorporates new collections...Even though the primary audience...is skilled researchers, a layperson can benefit from this directory...Those who work in a library, archive, museum, cultural or educational institution, etc. will benefit greatly from this directory by expanding their knowledge about digital collections but also will be able to provide customers with an invaluable resource to begin their exploration of digital collections around the world." --College & Research Libraries, September 2011

"Compiled by three academic librarians, Digital Collections Worldwide provides an exhuastive and valuable annotated listing of the world's most authoritative and comprehensive digital collections....the book will never be outdated because the authors maintain a companion Web site that updates broken links and incorporates new collections...Even thogh the primary autidence...is skilled researchers, a layperson can benefit from this directory...Those who work in a library, archive, museum, cultural or educational institution, etc. will benefit greatly from this directory by expanding their knowledge about digital collections but also will be able to provide customers with an invaluable resource to begin their eploration of digital collections around the world." --College & Research Libraries, September 2011