Digital Archiving for the Web

I am currently researching a solution to digitize some of
our library's historical content (and perhaps other
non-historical content in the future).  Some of the content
has already been digitized - but the staff would also like
to have a version viewable on our website.  The original
file size is too large to place on a website (it would take
about 30 minutes to download on a highspeed connection), and
if they are reduced in size to be placed on the website, the
high detail is completely removed (which is important to
keep in this regard).
 
I've noticed that the NY Public Library has something very
close to what I'm after in their digital gallery (see image
page <http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchde
tail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=293063&imageID=481134&wor
d=&snum=&p=&s=&notword=&d=&f=&to
tal=1&num=0&imgs=12&pos=1&staticMode=yes>
  and use "Pan & Zoom").  The Library of
Congress incorporates something similar in their
"American Memory" collection (such as the History
Map of Saratoga, 1888 <http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/map_item.pl?data
=/home/www/data/gmd/gmd380/g3804/g3804s/pm006300.sid&sty
le=pmmap&itemLink=D?gmd:156:./temp/~ammem_1U5z:&titl
e=Saratoga%20Springs,%20N.Y.%201888.%20Drawn%20%26%20pub
lished%20by%20L.%20R.%20Burleigh.%20Burleigh%20Lith.%20Est&g
t; ).  From my research, I know that the technology used for
NYPL is a server software from LizardTech, and the LoC uses
both software from LizardTech and Aware, Inc.
 
I'm currently in contact with someone from NYPL, but while
awaiting their response, I thought a opening up my questions
publically to many more professionals would be beneficial to
all.
 
What I'm trying to find out is the following information
from anyone who may be willing or able to help:
 - What options are there for (server?) software to handle
this specific need (if any)?
 - What considerations were made when planning for the
implementation of these tools?
 - What were the reasons for the final choice?
 - Are there any precautions to be aware of with any
possible solution?  (Personal/Organizational
experiences...)

I think any other information that we may require, I could
easily find on my own, but I would appreciate any help in
answers from those knowledgeable in these tools and
services.
 
 
 
 
Brendon Kozlowski
Web Administrator
Saratoga Springs Public Library
49 Henry Street
Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866
[518] 584-7860 x217

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