subject: DLF
digital library federation
British Library
British Library Joins Digital Library Federation
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: January 26, 2004
Contact: David Seaman dseaman@clir.org
WASHINGTON, D.C.The Executive Committee of the Digital Library Federation (DLF) today announced that the British Library has joined the DLF as its first Strategic Partner from outside the United States.
“I am delighted that the British Library has accepted our invitation to join,” said David Seaman, executive director of the DLF. “We are a fast-moving consortium of very active academic digital libraries and we treat growth with caution, so as not to undermine our nimbleness of operation; however, the addition of one of the world’s great libraries will significantly enrich our collaborative work and will provide a vital perspective to our endeavors.”
Under CEO Lynne Brindley, the British Library has embarked upon a significant expansion of its digital library program, one that will benefit not only citizens of the United Kingdom, but readers and researchers everywhere. The decision by the British Library to join the Digital Library Federation signals not only the determination of the BL to exploit the possibilities for research and study as well as for communication and collaboration of digital information resources, but also the synergetic benefits to be gained in that expansion by joining the Digital Library Federation, a group of similarly activated and determined institutions.
“I am very pleased that the Digital Library Federation has asked us to join their progressive and innovative partnership,” said Lynne Brindley. “Many of the challenges of providing world-class digital information services and resources can only be accomplished through close cooperation and partnership. The DLF has an active membership that leads the world in these developments.”
The Digital Library Federation, founded in 1995, is a partnership organization of academic libraries and related organizations that are pioneering the use of electronic-information technologies to extend their collections and services. Through its strategic partners, the DLF provides leadership for libraries by identifying standards and “best practices” for digital collections and network access; coordinating research and development in the libraries’ use of technology; and incubating projects and services that libraries need but cannot develop individually. The DLF operates under the administration umbrella of the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR). More information is available on the DLF Web site at http://www.diglib.org.
The British Library houses the world’s knowledge, and is one of the top three libraries in the world. It is the United Kingdom’s national library and the worldÕs leading resource for scholarship, research, and innovation. Its collection covers every age of written civilization, every written language, and every aspect of human thought. Material held by the Library ranges from ancient Chinese oracle bones to technical reports about the latest scientific discoveries and today’s newspapers. Users, ranging from industrial companies to academic scholars, have access to the Library’s collection in its reading rooms and through its global document supply services, which supply over 15,000 documents per day to 20,000 customers in 111 countries. Information on the Library’s collection and services is available on the British Library Web site at http://www.bl.uk.
