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National Digital Library Program:
Internal Online Documentation

Access to the internal documentation is restricted. Pointers to publicly available papers and reports about American Memory and the National Digital Library Program are given below. More information about the internal NDLP documentation is also available.

Navigation tips:

From any "page" that is part of the NDLP Internal Documentation, you will be able to return here by clicking on the "Start" link at the top of the page or the DRAFT icon at the bottom of the page. [Once I have gone through all the pages and added the links -- CRA]

However, you will also be able to follow many links to materials outside the NDLP Internal Documentation and outside the Library of Congress. To return to a page you were reading earlier, use the back arrow of your web-browser or the feature that keeps track of recent pages viewed (look for Go, History, or Navigate - WebMap).

Browse the internal NDLP documentation by starting with one of these views

1. Index of pages
   Most likely to get you to everything available. For now, the index is simply an alphabetical list of pages with active links. As the resource grows, an alternative approach may be needed.
2. Overview materials and presentations
   • Informal model for user access to the NDLP historical collections
   • Technological aspects of the LC/Ameritech competition
3. Processes
   • Adding an NDLP collection to the digital library
   • An informal model for user access to the NDLP historical collections
4. Architectural components
   • Structure of the Digital Archive, including:
     • Handle Server
     • Prototype Repository (under development with CNRI)
     • Structural Metadata for Prototype Repository under development with CNRI
   • Digital Resources, including:
     • Identifiers for Digital Resources
     • Digital Formats in use by NDLP
   • Access Aids and Tools, including indexes, finding aids and catalog records
     • How MARC records are indexed in American Memory and Digital One Box
     • For information on the Encoded Archival Description standard for marking up archival finding aids in SGML, see the glossary entry.
   • Network Architecture and Protocols
     • Z39.50, a standard network protocol for searching and retrieving records from remote databases.
   • Presentation services
     • Sample item display from MARC record
     • Presentation of documents digitized as sequences of bit-mapped images. How the page-turning script works
5. Glossary of terms
   Contributions and suggestions welcome.

For public materials related to the NDLP try these sources

1. Background Papers and Technical Information from the American Memory home page.
2. Related Technical Information, supplementary material for applicants for the LC/Ameritech competition, including Selected Topics from the NDLP Internal Documentation.
3. Digital Library Initiatives -- Phase II is an NSF grant program for which LC is a co-sponsor. Certain American Memory collections are being made available to grantees. Technical information about the collections available has been provided.
4. Historical Collections for the National Digital Library: Lessons and Challenges at the Library of Congress, a two part article in D-Lib magazine from April and May 1996.

Send your comments on NDLP internal documentation to Caroline Arms at caar@loc.gov on RS8, or on paper to mailstop 9300.

Go to:

• LC/Ameritech National Digital Library Competition
• American Memory Home Page
• Library of Congress Staff Home Page

Library of Congress
(5/20/97)