NetInteractive Documents
The structure and function of digital libraries is influenced by the traditional processes of academic libraries. It involves acquisition of contents, cataloguing of acquired contents and their availability to the targeted audience. Present day digital library systems may have transformed the conventional processes into digital environment, however little development work has been done for the progression of traditional library business model in digital domain. The digital contents are essentially more interactive and collaboration capable. Thus the new digital library processes models must have support systems to extend the interactivity amongst contents, users and library systems. The linking of multimedia information objects to and from the published material can raise the understanding and consumption of knowledge to next level.
The new form of networked and interactive digital libraries can exploit the maximum potentials of internet and digital media. The next generation library systems may additionally present contents beyond scope of traditional books and documents. These contents (audios, videos, simulations and infographics etc.) are exponentially increasing in online communities and can significantly add value to book material. It is also desirable to have convenient mapping of annotations for self-use and peer groups. Enrichment of meta-data by user contributions (moderated) and semantic library relationships will also extend the scope of information consumption.
More advance libraries should incorporate better acquisition models based on usage patterns. Libraries and users can define and select usage of published material based on object scope and time limits. Intelligent library systems should have enhanced search capabilities that extend to peer libraries and can make use of push instead of relying on pull model of information supply.
Special care and training also needed for the use of new library models since the scope of published contents are not just restricted to locally owned resources. Legal, data rights and privacy aspects needs to be examined carefully in setting up networked and interactive library spaces.