Multimedia servers

[Allen Mullen]

We are beginning to consider collecting (and possibly creating)   
multimedia virtual collections for our patrons, consisting of audio,   
video, photographic and text-based data stored locally, in addition to   
access to full-text databases via the web.  We presently host a web   
server, but are considering purchase of a second server for storage and   
access to these resources.

Do any of you have recommendations regarding the following:

1.  Server hardware specifications for the storage and multiple-user   
access of multimedia rich library collections.   It is especially   
difficult to anticipate what our storage requirements might be, but if   
you have ideas for media (optical, jaz, RAID hard disk arrays, etc.) that   
we should consider, I'd appreciate your input.
2.  Server software that you have found to be ideal for coding and   
serving multimedia data to library patrons, both in and out of the   
"building"  (I'm currently especially interested in RealAudio/Video and   
Shockwave).  The software must run under Windows NT 4.0.

We are a medium-sized public library with a T1 connection and a very   
progressive staff.  I would enjoy trading information with you if you   
have similar interests.  We will be addressing collection development   
policies, patron access issues, and copyright issues,  in addition to the   
technical/software side of things.  An interesting time to be a   
librarian!   I will post a summary of replies to the above questions for   
the list.

Thank you in advance.

Allen Mullen
Coordinator for Library Automation
Danbury CT Public Library