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New Mode of Universal Access: The Latest Development of Global Memory Net

Ching-chih Chen, Ph.D.

Professor
Graduate School of Library and Information Science
Simmons College

30 September 2005

9:30-11:00 a.m.
Presentation and Q&A

11:00-11:30 a.m.
Reception

OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc.
Kilgour Auditorium
6565 Frantz Road
Dublin, OH 43017-3395

In this digital era, we have witnessed the exciting convergence of content, technology, and global collaboration in the development of digital libraries. This mode of universal access for information seeking and knowledge acquisition differs greatly from traditional methods. From the information resources point of view, the old model of "owning" a collection has given way to "sharing," and the new emphases have shifted from possessing large "physical libraries" to "virtual libraries" digitally distributed all over the world.

Ching-chih Chen has experienced many of these transformations through her own R&D activities—from the creation of interactive videodiscs and multimedia CDs in the 1980s and '90s to leading a current international digital library project, Global Memory Net, supported by the US National Science Foundation. In presenting her vision for linking world digital resources together for universal access, she will share with the audience the latest developments of Global Memory Net, particularly since April 2005.

Dr. Chen is Professor in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Simmons College. An international consultant and speaker, she has written or edited over 35 books and more than 200 scholarly journal articles. Since 1993, Dr. Chen has helped the development of digital libraries in numerous countries by linking worldwide libraries, museums and archives into the Global Digital Library Initiative. Since 2000 she has led two NSF/International Digital Library Projects, including the Global Memory Net. She is co-PI of the China-US Million Book Digital Library Project, has served as a member of the Advisory Committee of the European Digital Library Network (DELOS), and is a consultant to the National Library of China's major China Digital Library Project. Her Global Memory Net project has served as a model for promoting universal access, content building (especially image and video), archiving and international collaboration.

A Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Ching-chih Chen has received many awards and honors. During 1997-2002, she served as a member of the U.S. President's Information Technology Advisory Committee (PITAC) under both Presidents Clinton and Bush.

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