Digital libraries (DLs) have evolved since their launch in 1991 into an important type of
information system with widespread application. This volume advances that trend further by
describing new research and development in the DL field that builds upon the 5S (Societies
Scenarios Spaces Structures Streams) framework which is discussed in three other DL volumes
in this series.While the 5S framework may be used to describe many types of information systems
and is likely to have even broader utility and appeal we focus here on digital libraries.
Drawing upon six (Akbar Kozievitch Leidig Li Murthy Park) completed and two (Chen Fouh)
in-process dissertations as well as the efforts of collaborating researchers and scores of
related publications presentations tutorials and reports this book demonstrates the
applicability of 5S in five digital library application areas that also have importance in the
context of the WWW Web 2.0 and innovative information systems. By integrating surveys of the
state-of-the-art newresearch connections with formalization case studies and exercises
projects this book can serve as a textbook for those interested in computing information and
or library science. Chapter 1 focuses on images explaining how they connect with information
retrieval in the context of CBIR systems. Chapter 2 gives two case studies of DLs used in
education which is one of the most common applications of digital libraries. Chapter 3 covers
social networks which are at the heart of work onWeb 2.0 explaining the construction and use
of deduced graphs that can enhance retrieval and recommendation. Chapter 4 demonstrates the
value of DLs in eScience focusing in particular on cyber-infrastructure for simulation.
Chapter 5 surveys geospatial information in DLs with a case study on geocoding. Given this
rich content we trust that any interested in digital libraries or in related systems will
find this volume to be motivating intellectually satisfying and useful. We hope it will help
move digital libraries forward into a science as well as a practice. We hope it will help build
community that will address the needs of the next generation of DLs.
