MBooks: Univ of Michigan Library transforms research through digital archive

>Aug. 31, 2006
>Contact: Kelly Cunningham; (734) 615-2447; kecunhamumich.edu
>
>MBooks: U-M Library transforms research through digital
archive
>
>ANN ARBOR, Mich.---The first digital works resulting
from the
>University of Michigan/Google Digitization Partnership
are now being
>used to enhance the University Library's online
catalog.
>
>The online catalog points to a new U-M Library system
called MBooks
>that was developed specifically for the materials
digitized by
>Google. The system, intended to support scholarly
research, was
>designed to meet the specialized needs of researchers by
providing
>more information about works in the collection
and---where
>allowed---actually making the text of works available
through the catalog.
>
>In addition to a page-turning function, the online
material includes
>updated bibliographic information, persistent
URLs---essential for
>proper citation---and the ability to change resolution
(i.e. zoom in
>or out), and to change format (such as converting to
PDF). The
>ability to magnify or rotate the image is particularly
important for
>researchers who must study detailed images such as
formulas for
>chemical compounds or intricate historical cartography,
and for
>persons with some disabilities.
>
> From the initial days of the partnership, the
University Library
> has anticipated providing these services to its
research community,
> said John Wilkin, co-interim University librarian.
>
>"One of our goals has been to create a digital
archive that not only
>preserves the Library's collections for future
generations, but also
>allows today's researchers and scholars to make use of
the myriad
>research opportunities offered by a digital archive. Our
partnership
>with Google is helping us accomplish this goal at an
unprecedented pace."
>
>For uncopyrightable works, such as works created by the
U.S.
>government, works in the public domain, and works
authorized for
>public display by the copyright holder, the text will be
fully
>viewable. For all material, the user may search within a
volume and
>retrieve the number of times a search term appears per
page. This
>feature is useful, not only for determining relevancy,
but also for
>scholarship requiring precise and exhaustive citation.
>
>"A project like this, where we are comprehensively
digitizing an
>entire research library of approximately 7 million
volumes, results
>in an extremely broad cross-section of titles being
archived. The
>materials represent a date range of more than 300 years,
dozens of
>languages, and every major subject area in the
University Library's
>collection," Wilkin said.
>
>Included in the material will be the University's
extensive federal
>government document collection. A small sampling of
documents
>available today includes the diplomatic correspondence
of Benjamin
>Franklin and John Adams, and approximately 2,200
Congressional
>hearings from the 1970s and 1980s.
>
>Productive scholarship, from the modest freshman term
paper to the
>most advanced research project, depends on quality of
search and
>ease of access to source materials, said John King, Vice
Provost for
>Academic Information. "These new systems will
bring a transformation
>in scholarly productivity and quality. Scholars will be
able to find
>virtually everything available on their topic easily and
quickly.
>Public domain materials will be available instantly,
while
>copyrighted materials will be readily accessible through
the
>library's conventional processes."
>
>The University of Michigan Library is one of the top ten
research
>libraries in North America. The Library's mission is to
support,
>enhance, and collaborate in the instructional, research,
and service
>activities of the faculty, students, and staff, and
contribute to
>the common good by collecting, organizing, preserving,
>communicating, and sharing the record of human
knowledge.
>
>For information on the U-M Library:
><http://www.lib.umich.edu/>http://www.lib.umich.edu
>
>For information on the U-M online catalog:
><http://mirlyn.lib.umich.edu/>http://mirlyn.lib.umi
ch.edu
>
>For information on MBooks:
><http://mdp.lib.umich.edu
/m/mdp/mdp-faq.htm>http://mdp.lib.umich.edu/m/mdp/mdp-faq
.htm
>
># # # # # #
>[LIBRARY]
>
>To contact News Service
>
>By fax: (734) 764-7084
>By phone: (734) 764-7260
>By mail: 412 Maynard, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1399
>By Internet: <http://www.umich.edu/news>http://www.umich.edu/news

Kelly E. Cunningham
Senior Public Affairs Specialist

Office of Media Relations and Public Affairs
1026 Fleming Administration Building
503 Thompson Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Phone:  (734) 615-2447
Cell:   (734) 945-5832
Fax:            (734) 615-2081
kecunhamumich.edu
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