[Web4lib] MBooks: Univ of Michigan Library transforms research through digital archive

[Perry Willett]

>Aug. 31, 2006
>Contact: Kelly Cunningham; (734) 615-2447; kecunham at umich.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.umich.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
>
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>
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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
kecunham at umich.edu