(M2 PressWIRE Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)
RDATE:30102007

New Haven, Conn. -- Readers around the world will soon have online
access to thousands of rare books in Yale's Library thanks to an
agreement between the University and Microsoft Corp to digitize many
volumes found only in the Yale collections.

The Microsoft-Yale project will initially focus on the digitization of
100,000 out-of-copyright English-language books, which will then become
available readers through Microsoft's Live Search interface
(http://books.live.com).

"This use of technology permits the University to share its scholarly
resources with a wider community of students and scholars than ever
before," said Yale University President Richard C. Levin.

"Yale's position as one of the world's leading research libraries makes
it appropriate that we should be providing global digital access to
increasing quantities of our rare and unique material," said Alice
Prochaska, Yale's University Librarian. "This exciting partnership with
Microsoft gives us the platform to do so."

The Library and Microsoft have selected Kirtas Technologies to carry
out the process based on their proven excellence and state-of-the art
equipment. The Library has successfully worked with Kirtas previously,
and the company will establish a digitization center in the New Haven
area.

"This is a significant alliance for Microsoft, and we look forward to
collaborating with the Yale University Library," said Danielle Tiedt,
General Manager of the Live Search Books Selection team at Microsoft
Corp. "The Library has a wealth of materials in its general and special
collections, and we are delighted to help bring these treasures to the
attention of a broader audience."

Yale University Library holds unique collections of enduring research
value and is digitizing many of its special collections including
manuscripts, archival documents, maps, photographs, audio and visual
materials, rare works of art, and slides used for teaching and research
at the University.

Hundreds of thousands of items have already been digitized from the
holdings of the Visual Resources Collection, the Beinecke Rare Book and
Manuscript Library, the Lewis Walpole Library, Manuscripts and
Archives, the Medical Historical Library, and other libraries and
collections. Many of these are now available to the global research
community beyond Yale. A comprehensive listing of the Library's digital
collections is available at:
http://www.library.yale.edu/libraries/digcoll.html.

This newest initiative is expected to produce substantial benefits for
the Yale community and for researchers worldwide. These include: being
able to reunite collections virtually that are physically housed in
different repositories; allowing the full text to be indexed, which
enables researchers to locate relevant material not accessible through
traditional indexes or library catalogues; giving faculty enhanced
electronic access to scholarly materials; and increasing student access
to digital research and instructional materials.

Digital files can be used to integrate research material with online
teaching services and with inter-institutional collaborative projects,
such as the Live Search Books program with the British Library, Cornell
University, and the Universities of California and Toronto.

The digital format also provides security by eliminating handling of
original rare or fragile material, and securing against loss through
normal deterioration, theft, natural disaster, or other destructive
events.

The project will maintain rigorous standards established by the Yale
Library and Microsoft for the quality and usability of the digital
content, and for the safe and careful handling of the physical books.
Yale and Microsoft will work together to identify which of the
approximately 13 million volumes held by Yale's 22 libraries will be
digitized. Books selected for digitization will remain available for
use by students and researchers in their physical form. Digital copies
of the books will also be preserved by the Yale Library for use in
future academic initiatives and in collaborative scholarly ventures.

About Yale University Library

One of the world's leading research libraries, Yale University Library
is a full partner in teaching, research, and learning at Yale and is
visited by scholars from around the world. A distinctive strength is
its rich spectrum of resources, including approximately 13 million
volumes and information in all media, ranging from ancient papyri to
early printed books to electronic databases. The Library is engaging in
numerous projects to expand access to its physical and digital
collections. Housed in 22 buildings including the Sterling Memorial
Library and the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, it employs a
dynamic staff of nearly six hundred who offer innovative and flexible
services to library readers. To learn more about Yale University
Library and its collections and services, visit www.library.yale.edu.

CONTACT: Dorie Baker
Tel: +1 203 432 8553

((M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information
provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties.
Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at
http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to
info@m2.com)).

Copyright 2007 M2 Communications Ltd.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]

Discussions: