>Aug. 31, 2006 >Contact: Kelly Cunningham; (734) 615-2447; [log in to unmask] > >MBooks: U-M Library transforms research through digital archive > >ANN ARBOR, Mich.---The first digital works resulting from the >University of Michigan/Google Digitization Partnership are now being >used to enhance the University Library's online catalog. > >The online catalog points to a new U-M Library system called MBooks >that was developed specifically for the materials digitized by >Google. The system, intended to support scholarly research, was >designed to meet the specialized needs of researchers by providing >more information about works in the collection and---where >allowed---actually making the text of works available through the catalog. > >In addition to a page-turning function, the online material includes >updated bibliographic information, persistent URLs---essential for >proper citation---and the ability to change resolution (i.e. zoom in >or out), and to change format (such as converting to PDF). The >ability to magnify or rotate the image is particularly important for >researchers who must study detailed images such as formulas for >chemical compounds or intricate historical cartography, and for >persons with some disabilities. > > From the initial days of the partnership, the University Library > has anticipated providing these services to its research community, > said John Wilkin, co-interim University librarian. > >"One of our goals has been to create a digital archive that not only >preserves the Library's collections for future generations, but also >allows today's researchers and scholars to make use of the myriad >research opportunities offered by a digital archive. Our partnership >with Google is helping us accomplish this goal at an unprecedented pace." > >For uncopyrightable works, such as works created by the U.S. >government, works in the public domain, and works authorized for >public display by the copyright holder, the text will be fully >viewable. For all material, the user may search within a volume and >retrieve the number of times a search term appears per page. This >feature is useful, not only for determining relevancy, but also for >scholarship requiring precise and exhaustive citation. > >"A project like this, where we are comprehensively digitizing an >entire research library of approximately 7 million volumes, results >in an extremely broad cross-section of titles being archived. The >materials represent a date range of more than 300 years, dozens of >languages, and every major subject area in the University Library's >collection," Wilkin said. > >Included in the material will be the University's extensive federal >government document collection. A small sampling of documents >available today includes the diplomatic correspondence of Benjamin >Franklin and John Adams, and approximately 2,200 Congressional >hearings from the 1970s and 1980s. > >Productive scholarship, from the modest freshman term paper to the >most advanced research project, depends on quality of search and >ease of access to source materials, said John King, Vice Provost for >Academic Information. "These new systems will bring a transformation >in scholarly productivity and quality. Scholars will be able to find >virtually everything available on their topic easily and quickly. >Public domain materials will be available instantly, while >copyrighted materials will be readily accessible through the >library's conventional processes." > >The University of Michigan Library is one of the top ten research >libraries in North America. The Library's mission is to support, >enhance, and collaborate in the instructional, research, and service >activities of the faculty, students, and staff, and contribute to >the common good by collecting, organizing, preserving, >communicating, and sharing the record of human knowledge. > >For information on the U-M Library: ><http://www.lib.umich.edu/>http://www.lib.umich.edu > >For information on the U-M online catalog: ><http://mirlyn.lib.umich.edu/>http://mirlyn.lib.umich.edu > >For information on MBooks: ><http://mdp.lib.umich.edu/m/mdp/mdp-faq.htm>http://mdp.lib.umich.edu/m/mdp/mdp-faq.htm > ># # # # # # >[LIBRARY] > >To contact News Service > >By fax: (734) 764-7084 >By phone: (734) 764-7260 >By mail: 412 Maynard, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1399 >By Internet: <http://www.umich.edu/news>http://www.umich.edu/news Kelly E. Cunningham Senior Public Affairs Specialist Office of Media Relations and Public Affairs 1026 Fleming Administration Building 503 Thompson Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Phone: (734) 615-2447 Cell: (734) 945-5832 Fax: (734) 615-2081 [log in to unmask]