LINUS January 1999 : Library News
NUS Digital Library
Digital Services Division Head
The NUS Library has embarked on developing a digital library which aims to fully harness information technology in support of the University's mission to excel in research, teaching and learning. The digital library will enable us to further provide quality library services and on-demand information to our users.
We see the digital library as an information integrator providing seamless access to knowledge in electronic formats and links to electronic library services. The digital library is an extension of the present "traditional" library system. It does not seek to replace the print collection built over the years but rather to enhance access and integrate information in all formats.
The following features of the digital library are already implemented. Through the campus network NUSNET, NUS staff and students can:
- Access to digital resources such as electronic journals, databases and full-text sources
- Navigate easily to and from indexes and full-text sources
- Access to location information of print resources
- Check status of materials held in the library, view individual loan information, renew items on loan and place resevations
- Receive library notices such as reservation and overdue notices through email
- Make library fines payment by CashCard
- Receive requested documents electronically
See article on Speedoc
The NUS Library has plans to provide the following in the future:
- Web interface to access library collections and services with multimedia and multilingual capabilities
- Virtual reference services where users can ask and receive their answers electronically
- Electronic reserves to provide online access to recommended course materials in the Library
- Examination papers accessible on the Web
- Online instructional courses to equip users with lifelong information seeking skills
- Online submission of requests for documents not held in the Library
The NUS Library is participating in the vision of Vannevar Bush who described desktop access to information way back in 1945. Developing a digital library is an on-going task and we will be monitoring the latest initiatives and technology to further enhance the NUS Digital Library.
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You may be interested in reading what Bush had to say about his Memex machine. Bush, Vannevar. "As We May Think." Atlantic Monthly July 1945: 101-108. Reprinted in Nyce, James M. and Paul Kahn. From Memex to Hyptertext. Boston: Academic Press, 1991: 85-110. (SC Main Shelves QA76.4 Fro) Or read the electronic version of the article at
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© National University of Singapore Library
Contents January 1999
Library News
New look for Chinese Library
NUS Digital Library
New databases on Library Web
New features in WebLINC
New table + SPnP points for users in Central Library
Speedoc for online document delivery
PERIND for articles on Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and ASEAN
Bibliography on Chinese fiction
Research on Aw Boon Haw
Good Samaritan
CD-ROM Highlights
Chemical Abstracts Collective Indexes
Law Library CD-ROM collection changes
Avery Index
Collection Highlights
Science fiction and fantasy
Videos on making organizations more effective
Recent materials on Effective Teaching Methods