Aggregating distributed digital collections in the mountain west digital library with the CONTENTdm multi-site server

• Published in: Library hi tech Vol. 23; no. 2; pp. 220 - 232
• Main Authors: ARLITSCH, Kenning, JONSSON, Jeff
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford Emerald 01-01-2005; Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subjects: Academic libraries; Acquisitions & mergers; Applications (e.g. Digitizing,...); Case studies; Collection development; Colleges & universities; Consortia; Cooperation; Councils; Cultural heritage; Digital asset management; Digital libraries; Digitization; Electronic media; Exact sciences and technology; History; Information and communication sciences; Information and communication technologies; Information retrieval; Information science. Documentation; Information technologies: storage media, equipment; Integrated library systems-ILS; Integration; Library materials; Metadata; Mountain West Digital Library; Pilot projects; Portals; Preservation; Sciences and techniques of general use; Software; USA; User services; Utah; Websites; World Wide Web; United States; North America; Utah; America; Nevada; United States > US; Design; Project; Content management; Cooperation; United States of America; Digitizing; Information retrieval; Software; Regional; History; Electronic library; Digital libraries
• ISSN: 0737-8831; 2054-166X

The creation of the Mountain West Digital Library (MWDL), a cooperative regional program distributed throughout Utah and Nevada, is described. Its metadata are aggregated at a single web site. Six digitization centers at the largest universities in both states digitize their own collections and support partner institutions in their geographic regions. Each center runs a CONTENTdm server, and an aggregating server at the University of Utah harvests metadata into a single searchable index. Local control and identity of collections are hallmarks of the MWDL. The technical structure of the MWDL is described, with focus on the multi-site server aggregating software from DiMeMa Inc. The MWDL was the first cooperative digital project to implement this software, and inspired the same infrastructure for a nine-state project known as the Western Waters Digital Library. In 2005 the MWDL will also become the first in the nation to aggregate distributed digital newspaper collections.